While we stay quite busy and active, our life here in Hot Springs Village is fairly mundane. Each day is similar to the day before and the day after, and each week is much the same as the week before and the week after. During the summer, a number of clubs take a hiatus, so except for Kay’s many social commitments, I pretty much play golf in the daytime, and stay home in the evenings; it’s too hot most days (for me, at least) to ride the bicycle.

We did take a trip to north Arkansas for a weekend visit with John and Sandra Simank (as guests at their Norfork house) and Ed and Linda Richmond, to visit friends and former neighbors Wayne and Loretta, and to meet with our financial advisor.

There are many dragonflies and damselflies flitting about on hot summer days, particularly living adjacent to a lake. There are great “experts” on as well as photographers of these wonderful bugs in Arkansas with whom I’ve become acquainted via Facebook. Their help in identifying the various species has been significant. Photographing them has become a new hobby.

Otherwise, we are looking forward to the upcoming trip to Pennsylvania in a few days.

It seems like July was full of golf and grandkids, with a rare butterfly visit early in the month.

Kay and I played golf almost everyday, though not often together. Hot Springs Village is a great place to live if one is a golfer as there are 9 courses and a good portion of the population plays.

The weekend after July 4th, we were “honored” with a visit from Harper and her other grandparents, David and Lisa Painter. Harper sure enjoys visiting us. We saw some new dance routines she created, and played a bunch. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos. And then in late July, Ridge came to visit for a few days. We repeated many of the activities Harper enjoyed during her spring break, plus a trip to the water park portion of Magic Springs. He had a blast, but was ready to rejoin his sis and parents after a few days.

Ridge at Mid-America Science Museum

Ridge at Mid-America Science Museum

Aker, KK, DD, and Ridge at their house

Despite heavy winds, on July 6 a female Diana Fritillary (Lady Diana) was observed nectaring on one of the butterfly bushes. This was a real treat, and “bonifide” Kay as a butterfly gardener, having had visits from both the male and female.

Female Diana Fritillary