Merry Christmas again. Life is still very good in NW Arkansas. We stay busy, healthy and happy. We hope that you are enjoying your lives as well and 2011 was a great year for you? Like every year we took a few steps forward and not too many backward. We traveled a little and and worked a lot. We'll share a few highlights of our tedious existence with you.
The most significant was the sale of our former residence outside Bentonville after 18 months on the market. The new owners are making drastic changes. It will be interesting to see what someone else does with what was a 5-year, major labor of love for the two of us. We'll get over it.
The house on the lake makes up for everything else. The quiet and peace of the lake in the morning makes a great way to start the day. Because the house was empty for so long, there was a lot of work for us. Last year we finished most of the inside upgrades and this past year we did a lot of outside work to ensure that the house as well as the lot didn't end up running down to the bottom of the lake. We put in a lot of drainage, built retaining walls, and laid sod where it was really needed. Now if we just had real grass instead of weeds. BUT it never ends – at the moment we are waiting the plumber to fix a leaking water main.
Northwest Arkansas continues to grow and expand. In November the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened. It is beautiful inside and out and loaded with great art – as well it should be having been endowed with $1.4bn by the Walton Family. We continue to have a proprietary interest in it as a result of the thousands of yards of Crystal Bridges dirt that filled the big gully at our former house.
Sadie, the shady lady dog, continues to demand attention and lots of care. But we love her lots. In March, three months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery on her right leg, she had to have the same on her left. She has recovered pretty well and is quite active once she warms up.
Son and Daughter-in-law still live in Cheltenham, England. Paul is now working as a financial analyst and is seeming to enjoy it. He has added another significant qualification to his resume and is awaiting results for another. Angela is still unable to work due to continuous migraine headaches. We keep hoping that their neurosurgeon can find a cure. Right now they are trying a series of botox scalp-treatments. We made our annual trip to England in October and had a great visit with all of the family and many friends. The Queen seems to be managing quite well without us.
We had another great holiday with Joyce and Kenn in May. We spent 3 days in Turkey and another two weeks in Greece. The experiences in visiting the origins of our western civilization were super. The Greeks were outstanding hosts and kept us fed and bedded beyond our expectations – really recommend the trip. In a couple of months we'll be trying another destination in another direction: “Ancient Kingdoms: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia.”
We both still keep active. Sylvia still works three days a week as an Assistant Manager for the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. She enjoys the work, the organization and her co-workers. Jerry is the “house husband.” He'll be serving on the “Lakes” committee for our Property Owners Association next year. Our “Village” has seven lakes as well as nine golf courses.
We look forward to the new year – new challenges and new adventures, and especially some lazy, relaxing days. We eagerly anticipate hearing from you this holiday season. We would also enjoy your company should you find yourself anywhere near this lovely corner of Arkansas.
A very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Sylvia, Jerry and Sadie
20 Cheviot Lane, Bella Vista, AR 72715,
Telephone 479-271-8572 /479-531-2997
E-mail: jerry@argets.com or sylvia@argets.com
website: https://argets.com/