Fri 11/15

Well, we are now in murfreesboro Arkansas.  I forgot to tell you that we went out to eat one nite in Branson.  Usually we live on fast food (i know bad for us) or whatever we can scrap up here at home.  We try to eat or fix one good meal every few days.  Normally we eat 1 maybe 2 meals a day.  I know, its a terrible way to eat but if we eat 3 squares a day we gain weight even with all our activity.  I know its the food and the portion that does us in, but anyhow.  We ate at the Fish Shack which is a restaurant owned by Bass Pro Shops.  It sticks out over the river so we decided to go in.  I had great trout and Leroy had, hell I can't remember, BUT Leroy ordered alligator tails for a starter (can't spell the other word).  They taste like chicken, ha ha Tom, they really didn't taste like anything but the batter and I guess can be kinda tough and chewy which these weren't.  So i tried something new.  Yeah for us.
We left Branson the next day and headed for here.  its a state park with an open diamond field that you can mine diamonds in yourself.  it is the only one in the world and some very large diamonds have come from here.  Arkansas is known for diamonds I found out and the diamonds here are very superior as they usually don't need to be cut as they come out so perfect.  Well we got here yest afternoon and then today we went over to the field.  We got some nice rocks, some stuff to sift thru here at home but at this point we didn't find diamonds.  We learned some techniques from the old timers and some full timers and I think our next trip over there will be better.  We didn't really know what to do or how to do it today but we spent 6 hours there and for $14 we had a hell of a lot of fun, met some great people and got some good laughs. We did get some other nice minerals tho.  it is amazing to think that there are 8 or  9 of these tubes that have erupted in the area and this is the only one active now.  They blew up (volcano) and the areas around are full of diamonds.  They tried to make this one a productive commercial mine but it isn't enough or consistent enough to make it worth while so the state bought it and turned it into a state park and opened the fields to the public.  How cool is that.  
So we now have mined for ameseth in northern Minnesota and panned for gold in Washington and now hunted for diamonds in Arkansas.
Anyhow, guess we will stay here for a few days.  It is so beautiful.  It is so peaceful.  We have hiked some trails already and today came home from the field exhausted but had to take dogs for their walk.  We walked about 2 miles cause it is just so rejuvenating.  It is so beautiful and peaceful here.  Walking at sunset, crickets chirping, birds nestling in for the nite, I cam back so relaxed and refreshed. Leaves everywhere to walk in, and they crunch when you walk in them not squish.  This is a beautiful state.  It is so not hectic.  So think we will sit and relax here, get some things done we want to do, hit the diamond field again, and just chill.  Very few campers around, but great sites.  I plan on taking a few pictures tomorrow.
Today, I was walking in the field, lost my footing, as the ground has been plowed, wobbled around, and down i went, bounced around on the uneven ground, saw my feet go up over my head, and laid there laughing on my back as i felt like a turtle.  A very nice Iraq veteran came by, laughed and offered to help.  I told him this is not unusual and i should be able to get up.  I got up in my unlady like stance that I need to use and as i stool there with both hands and feet on the ground I realized I would need help as I wasn't standing on flat ground.  So I lifted one arm for him to steady so i could stand, he said, i can't lift you with that one, switch, so I had to switch arms,and lifted the other for him to use..  (Now at this point I had not met or looked at this young man) Tho it wasn't easy for me, he grabbed the arm and helped me straighten up.  I then find out the young man had the other arm blown up with a tank shot at he has limited use.  He then tells me, don't worry, no one saw it and i won't remember i helped you in a couple days.  That part of my brain is gone and doesn't work anymore.  I laughed and told him, that's what old age is like and he is just getting an early shot at it.  He said, my grandpa says that, and hes 91.   I later found out, Leroy had met the guy and had a veteran to veteran chat already.  So it was an interesting afternoon to say the least, and that was just a bit of it.  One guy was mining and talking to me and I almost fell flat into his area and messed it all up, I slid into the water.  So needless to say, I really need to wash clothes soon.  I was a total mess when i got done.
There is a beagle cross dog here in the park that was abandoned about 2 months ago and the warden won't come and get him unless the park or someone catches him first.  So that is my goal in the next couple days to see if I can do my dog whispering to him and get him in and safe before I leave.  We will see if I am any good or not. ha ha.
So, we are at Murfreesboro, AR for a few more days.