Pictures and posts from the United States.
Jim — Jim needed a new portrait to accompany his latest gallery exhibits. I would have preferred to take his picture in the workshop, but time was of the essence, and Jim and Carol were in Springfield for the day. I used my secret weapon—Ginger—to distract and relax his pose while I took a set of photographs in our backyard. 2
Jim — Jim needed a new portrait to accompany his latest gallery exhibits. I used my secret weapon—Ginger—to distract and relax his pose while I took a set of photographs in our backyard. 2
Making plans — I grabbed this candid shot of Lanie while we were taking a rest in the shade outside the butterfly house at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. Unfortunately, the butterfly house was closed for renovation.
Making plans — Lanie and her bf Lewis joined us for our ‘mini-break.’ We took a few minutes before we left the hotel to decide what to do with our day. 2
Well plaid — When we arrived at the hotel on Sunday, I knew I wanted to get this picture. Monday, I grabbed it. I had to lie down in the road to get the picture, but it was worth it. Graduate Hotel, Fayetteville, Arkansas, April 2026. 2
Decor, the Graduate Hotel, Fayetteville — Not only was I enamored with the camo carpet, I also love the colorful curtains. Fayetteville, Arkansas, April 2026. 4
Eclectic Decor, Graduate Hotel, Fayetteville — The theme is upmarket seventies/eighties student accommodation, but clean and tidy!
Buck Rogers, Artist unknown — Welcome to our hotel bathroom art. I was not familiar with the film or TV series until now and initially thought that the picture might be of Lee Majors. Ginger put me right by identifying the local (Little Rock, Arkansas) actor Gil Gerard, 01-23-1943 — 12-16-2025. 1
After the concert — We were in Fayetteville for a Chris Thile concert. We enjoyed seeing him at the Kauffman Center, Kansas City in February, and booked tickets when we saw he was going to be in Fayetteville.
Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas — We were in Fayetteville for a Chris Thile concert. We enjoyed seeing him at the Kauffman Center, Kansas City in February, and booked tickets when we saw he was going to be in Fayetteville.
Old and new — The older building in the foreground appears more substantial and has much better proportions than the newer building in the background. The latter looks insubstantial, flimsy, and ill proportioned.
Fayetteville Square, Arkansas — Our hotel room wasn’t ready, so we went for a look around the square. We bought coffee and cake to while away the time as we sat and enjoyed the view.
Meds — It seems that the older I get, the more meds and supplements it takes to keep me functioning.
Hike almost over — it’s just a short way from here, at the edge of the wilderness, to the registration point and parking lot. All in all, I hiked a tad under 19 miles and climbed 1,500 feet of elevation. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, February 2026.
Big Piney Trail, South Loop along the top of a ridge, heading west near the Little Piney Creek Overlook. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, February 2026.
The trailside fire rings have been rebuilt — At first I thought it was just the odd one here and there, but all the fire rings I encountered and remember seeing on previous trips had either been rebuilt or cleared away. Many, like this one, had a supply of wood in them or nearby. 2
Camped at ‘Paddy Creek Trolltunga’ — this is such a great place to hang a hammock. Not so good if you want to set a tarp, though. I never have when stopping here. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, February 2026. 2
Preparing second breakfast — Peak Refuel Biscuits and Gravy. I’m glad I anticipated the burn ban and brought along my butane stove.
View from my hammock at ‘Paddy Creek Trolltunga’ — The real Trolltunga is around 2,300 feet above the lake below it.
Coffee and an (out of shot) Pop-Tart in my hammock. Eight o’clock and it’s warming up just a tad.
It got chilly last night – Day Three — not quite as bad as the forecast at 26°F. My plan worked, and I was too warm at times. 1 2
Big Paddy Creek was low enough to ford at the old crossing point — It’s the first time I’ve been able to cross here in quite a while. All the weed in the creek shows how low and slow the creek is at the moment. 2
Gary at the Big Paddy Creek Scenic Overlook, Paddy Creek Wilderness — It was very windy up on the ridge, and the wind was quite chilly, which was nice as it was 82°F in the sun. This is another Ozarks view I never tire of. 3
Big Paddy Creek Scenic Overlook, Paddy Creek Wilderness — I’ve taken pictures of this view before, but what the heck, here’s another. 2