We had to drive around the University of Arkansas campus because the Spouse is alumni. He reminded me a lot of my dad, since he'd point out places, saying he climbed the antenna on the top of this building, or this happened in that building, etc.etc. Dad always pointed out buildings he wired.
Some random lady walking by took this for me - we had a nice chat that ended up with her saying everyone needs to have a Chuck!
A short drive later, we stopped for the next 2 nights in Eureka Springs.
This was mine & the Spouse's 20th anniversary!
We also stopped and explored a cemetery called Gaskins Switch Cemetery.
Chosen for the silly name, of course.
They have an extensive trolley system that requires some figuring out.
We stopped at the Crescent Hotel, reportedly one of the most haunted hotels in the US.
We didn't take a ghost tour here, but it's on the list for next time!
This side yard was really pretty and I can imagine there have been a lot of weddings held here.
A neat fountain, too
We did some shopping. At this store called East by West (West by East? I don't remember) they have working bunnies. The bunny handed me the receipt and a pen to sign with, then handed me the bag.
We also stopped in the Bigfoot Store
Waiting for the Trolley.
It was really freaking hot so we went back to our cottage to rest & cool off for a while.
We had reservations for the Eureka Rocket Ghost Tour that evening.
This is a golf cart that identifies as a rocket.
We spent 2 hours with another couple and the driver + his dog driving around Eureka Springs while he told us stories about the area and various people who have lived there in the past.
I also got a drink from this spring.
I don't think this is open anymore, but the signage was funny!
My Mother In Law lives in Arkansas, the Spouse & I live in Michigan. He drives down to visit her (almost exactly 1000 miles) several times a year. The plan this year (here's the post from my other blog about the non-trip from January) was to fly into Little Rock, spend a couple days in Hot Springs, then we drive home together, spending our 20th anniversary on the road somewhere.
I sent Chuck to Arkansas with the Spouse and mini-Chuck was my travel buddy again.
This poor thing has had several different names - I need to settle on one!
They have a lot of paper airplane art in this terminal!
I was supposed to leave Friday, July 3.
Since I was flying one way, I left my car at Sis1's house and she took me to the airport. But first became the delays.
Weather, air traffic control management issues, lack of flight crew, etc.
This is a regional shuttle between Flint & Chicago that goes out twice a day. Then I would have got on another plane in Chicago to Little Rock.
The morning one on 7/4 was already cancelled.
So I rebooked for evening of 7/4.
At least I got to go to the parade with my family and let off fireworks with the grandkids!
Shout out to J.A.Haunts for always having a skeleton in the parade!
I got stickers from them last year because they saw me with Chuck.
But here we go again with delays for the 7/4 departure!
Same reasons.
And since the delays out of Flint made me miss my connection in Chicago, the airline rebooked me for Chicago to Little Rock on the morning of 7/5 with a 9 hour layover in Dallas!!
Aw hell no. So I rebooked AGAIN for the evening of 7/5.
3rd time was a charm - the trip was uneventful.
Other than not getting the preferred seats I paid extra for - at least I got ON the plane!
Hooray!
Finally made it to Little Rock!
West Mountain Overlook
We spent Monday in Hot Springs, just sort of hanging out with MIL and planning the rest of the week.
Happy Hollow Spring Fountain
one of the cold springs available in town.
Tuesday, on the way to Fayetteville
the Bobby Hopper Tunnel on I49 thru the Ozark Mountains
One of the main stops was at the Spouse's BFFs house!
We'd been married this long and I'd never met him or his family in real life!
Up until then, Chuck stayed in the car, but he came out to play in the Model T!
I swear I just posted here like a week ago, but my last post says 149 days!
Time really does fly when you're getting old.
The Spouse and I went on vacation earlier this month, so that'll be worth a couple posts. Chuck did some more travelling!
Oh and looking back to my last post - I had 2 opportunities to acquire the Cracker Barrel haunted house blowmold - and passed both times. It came to me later why I didn't jump on it. It's too detailed!
pic grabbed from a hugely overpriced eBay listing
That's being said - here are a couple blowmolds that I DID buy!
Because JOL cacti are SO common in Michigan!
Oddly enough, I bought it from someone on the East Coast!
See, I prefer the simpler blowmolds.
This ghost is just TOO cute!
The Grandson at Leo's Coney Island
This is a chain restaurant that we've been to many times -
we just haven't been to this particular location in years.
Of course, he had to step on the "try me" button and make the skeletons play their saxophones.
So yet again this year, At Home and TSC have already gotten a lot of my money.
I also have a couple other things from At Home that I didn't take pics of. 2 black metal flower stakes with skulls in the center and a spotlight that projects colorful dancing skeletons.
You know those huge skeleton groundbreakers that's been in all the stores the last few years? At Home has a mini-version! Like 12" tall! I looked for it when I was in the store recently but didn't see it (it was online only at the time) I'd grab that right up!
Super cute little snake!
The granddaughter was all excited when I got these heart hands - she makes hearts like that all the time so they're right up her alley!
There's a story why I bought the skeleton octopus. One of my favorite YouTubers is an artist named Adam who makes tidy nerdy things (aka North of the Border) and he's made several Octo-skulls, named Terry. This reminds me of Terry!
Now onto Tractor Supply....
they're killing me! I should buy stock.
First of all - I saw they had an eagle skeleton!
Bought it & picked it up at my local store.
I didn't realize assembly was required; however they sent me 2 of the same wings!
I called about returning it and they lady I talked to was pretty funny - she was quiet for a minute then said Hmmmf. I'm trying to picture some assembly line and someone messed up! And we both laughed, saying quality assurance must have been on break.
So she ordered me a new one and when I went to pick it up, I just had to return the bad one.
Which was entertaining to the TSC cashier I spoke to!
a left and right wing!!
Super cool - love it.
I need to figure out how I could mount him on the awning over the front door of my house (at least for H'ween) and put a spotlight on him. That would be a perfect spot.
I also got a new vulture since the one I had didn't survive when the wind blew the shack over a couple years ago. This one's got a rather limp neck, tho. Hopefully it was because it was very warm from being in the car when I took this pic....
OMG turkeys!!!
These actually light up - I think possibly the gobble & the chest? But definitely the eyes.
I might try them out just to see it, but I'd just leave the lights off.
I don't think they make noise - can you imagine??? Ghost gobbles!
I also like that these come with U shaped pins to hold them to the ground - a definite nice touch!
I've still being kind of watching the Home Depot website to see if they bring their jackalopes back altho I really don't need any more critters!
However, adding to the list of random weirdness....
Target is offering a KOALA!!!
Should I... or shouldn't I?
I actually have a place for this - there's a small cherry tree in my side yard, just behind where the cemetery starts.... this is only 8" long so it would fit on a small branch nicely..... but also wouldn't be visible from like anywhere, except in pictures.
Let's start out with this moth that was on the wall next to the door at work.
Super pretty!
Where is this year going? Less than 150 days until Halloween and the little weather app at the bottom of my monitor has been saying near record high temperatures for today & tomorrow! Ugh.
I love my blinged-out skelly that I got from Halloween Express.
Except I had it delivered to work and when I opened it - it showered glitter all over my office floor! So, I had to apologize to the cleaning guy, but since he knows me well, it didn't really surprise him where said glitter came from.
I got some clear gloss spray paint and put several good coats on her, so the glitter seems to be somewhat under control. She's still hanging in the garage, tho.
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I had no idea that Etsy sold anything other than crafty type stuff!
I saw this on Instagram - there are Etsy stores where they have real blowmold-inspired dollhouse decor. As I was growing up, we had one of these cat / JOLs so I had to go check it out.
Lo and behold - I found REAL blowmolds!!
Of course, the same guy is selling at least this particular little haunted house on eBay, too, but it was neat to see a bunch on Etsy.
At Home Stores have a bunch of H'ween "sneak peeks" out now. So far everything I bought from them last year are showing up as the same prices, so I'm glad about that.
I am mildly interested some yard stakes and mugs, but nothing I feel the need to stalk them for. I have a 15% coupon to use by July 4 so I'll keep watching.
I've also checked out Tractor Supply (because I'm a glutton for punishment!) to see if they have anything skeletal out yet. Nope. Mostly just inflatables - I wish there was a way to filter those out of searches!!! T-shirts & dog costumes / toys. They had some animatronics, too but I don't know if they're left over from last year or what.
They also have a variety of these "Ekkolights" that look like infinity mirrors, which are pretty cool.
And of course, since I logged into their website - they sent me an email with a $5 reward on it to use before June 7. I don't see anything I want to use it on! Maybe my sister could use it for legit farm stuff?
Cracker Barrel is another one with H'ween out. I'm currently 13 reward pegs away from getting $10 off (to be achieved in about 2 weeks) and I'm signed up to get the military discount. But of course, all the scalpers snatched up their haunted house blowmolds to resell at twice the amount. Guess that's a sign I'm not meant to have one. Maybe something else will grab me. They have some really cute sparkly skeleton earrings and a keychain......
Funny story - the Friday before Memorial Day, a random guy knocked on our door and told the Spouse that it looked like our yard needed some attention before the long holiday weekend - and offered to mow the lawn for a very reasonable price. The Spouse agreed. Of course, Steven couldn't help but notice the piles of skeletons on the giant totes & patio table and commented about them. I'm sure he thinks we're weirdos, but he's making $ and I don't have to mow the lawn - so win / win! Plus, he helped the Spouse move the Shack from the front yard into the back and now the grandkids are using it for a slide, but it's out of sight from the road, so also OK!
I've been thinking about making a video of opening the shed where all my critter skeletons got hap-hazardly tossed last fall - but I'm sure the real critters have made a giant mess! That'll just have to wait until I'm ready to start repainting & repairing headstones later this summer.
