Deb felt good and we took the ride to Hot Springs and back. The area is heavily forested and Deb loved seeing all the trees. You may not know it, but Deb's father LT McIntyre ran a sawmill and later sold sawmill equipment as the southeast sales rep for Frick Equipment. Deb grew up playing in sawdust. Since we got married, Deb can smell the sawmills from miles away and loves to see them.
We ate BBQ and then rode the old strip in Hot Springs that once was the entertainment center of the US until Las Vegas and Atlantic City sprang up. It's dilapidated now and the crowds are small. We drove up on the mountain and had a great view of the area.
Coming back, we passed a gemstone store on the side of the highway. Another thing you may not know about Deb is that she and several friends make jewelry using semi-precious stones. Of course, Deb has made virtually nothing since last year. Well, that did not keep her from looking at all the stones. Arkansas has many gemstones: in fact, it has diamonds.
I was surprised when I showed Deb a sample card of small labeled gemstones. It probably contained about 50 samples. Deb could name all but one! I was so impressed!
Further on, a teenage girl was selling fresh tomatoes and veggies from a roadside stand. We bought field peas, okra, peanuts, and tomatoes. I cooked them for supper. Ummm good!
By the time we got back to Little Rock and drove the highways around town, Deb was shot and asked to be dropped off at the apartment while I took the rental car back.
Now, full of veggies and after a nap, Deb is sitting quietly and reading her emails. Several letters and a package were here when we got back. Thanks friends!
Tomorrow starts the Dr visit and port installation. Then chemo. So, today might be the best Deb feels for a while.
Blessings all
Vern
Lookin' good there girl! Hope you feel up to finding some firework display, to make up for missing your PTC show!
ReplyDeleteAm so blessed to beable to give positive updates on your health.
Hugs, Y
Thankful you have a day off, and can have a change of pace. Hope the BBQ lived up to it's reputation. See some sights. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLove & hugs, Em
Reading the events of your day brings back the sweetest of memories for me. We took both of our girls to Hot Springs every Summer to go to the most wonderful Christian camp, Brookhill Ranch. There is a "rock shop" on Highway 7 very near the entrance to the camp that we stopped at every year. Katie was quite the rock collector(or was some of it colored glass??) and her trip to Hot Springs was not complete without a stop at the rock shop. Our dearest friends live in North Little Rock. He was our pastor when we lived in Arkansas and is now an Army chaplain. Our Summers revolved around their children and ours going to camp in Hot Springs for more years than I can count.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the stroll down memory lane, as those kids are all grown up and married now! Hope you enjoyed the day. Praying for all to go smoothly for you tomorrow. Cindy Tucker
Hi Vern & Deb,
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a chance to explore the area some. It sounds like you had a beautiful day. I am so glad you had a mini-vacation.
We are getting ready for Katie,Reece, and Sam to visit us this weekend. Sam is 22 months old and we can't wait to see him.
We are praying for you both as you prepare for your upcoming treatment.
Hugs and prayers,
♥Bruce & Daria