Two Dumb Dames in Eureka Springs, AR

Not many things last five generations in today’s world,  but Two Dumb Dames can not only boast that their family fudge recipes, handed down through the decades, have provided the livelihood for five generations of the Chambers/Sullivan/Walker family, but also satisfied the sweet cravings of thousands of visitors to the picturesque town of Eureka Springs, AR.  The original dumb dame’s husband had to eat his words (and probably a lot of fudge) when he declared her idea  ”the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of”!

OMG, Chocolate, caramel and crunchy pretzels!

English Toffee: my all-time favorite!

It's not always about the chocolate!

New flavor: Lemon Cream Pie for citrus lovers!

Craving some old-fashioned taffy?

Pucker Power!!!

Don't mess with Hallie - the original Dumb Dame. She's packin'.

Jonell (R) and Lana (L) 2nd and 3rd Generation Dumb Dames

Amanda - 4th generation Dumb Dame

Friendly faces like Ashley's (5th generation Dumb Dame)

The natural beauty and abundant wildlife of the Ozarks region is surely one of the U.S.’s best kept secrets and we aim to keep it that way. But If you find yourself in unique and historical Eureka Springs, AR be sure to stop in and satisfy your sweet tooth at Two Dumb Dames on Main St. in the heart of downtown. Better yet, you can get a taste of their delectable treats by ordering online – they have something for everyone, including sucrose-free fudge for folks with sugar intolerance or diabetes. All the fudge and candy are homemade in small batches. Their ambrosia-like divinity is the real thing and  I know for a fact that Lana gets up every morning at 4 a.m. to make it!

Ozarks Barn

Photo credit: Harrison Sutcliffe

Many of us share a love of Orange County.  Besides the gorgeous weather, there’s the beach, diversity in culture, people, and food, the Angels, the Ducks, the fact that you can wear white pants in December.  But there are certain things that I don’t love about it. One of those things is the stereotype that others have of the women of  ”the OC” and the other is the mass consumerism and the attitude that you often encounter, especially at some of our finer shopping destinations (often a rude awakening for  those of  us who don’t make shopping a hobby).  This is what makes my visits to the country even more special; there’s much less pretension and  you can really enjoy nature and “get back to basics”. ( If you’re a new reader, the country I am referring to is a small town named Eureka Springs in the Ozarks area of northwest Arkansas.)

Speaking of basics, while in Eureka Springs for Thanksgiving, we took a leisurely drive through the countryside to visit the historic War Eagle Mill, a popular tourist attraction and a working grist mill.  War Eagle makes stone ground organic flours, cornmeal, gourmet baking mixes, and gluten free flours the old-fashioned way:  slow stone-grinding to preserve all the nutrients and flavor of the grain. Read about their commitment to your health and the planet here.  You can see the mechanism used to grind grains into flour and meal and know that what you’re buying is nothing but pure grain –  none of the bleaching, bromating, preservatives, added gluten, etc. that comes with processed flour and bread.

Shown below:  different grains used to produce flour and bread, the Grinding Area, the water wheel that powers the grinder, the method used before grist mills were invented, and shelves stocked with flour in the War Eagle Mill store.

Eureka Springs, AR is a place dear to my heart and a naturally beautiful location full of striking photo ops.

Its not every day that you can be entertained for 4 hours for only $6 and experience great music, belly dancing, and the current year’s top Academy Award winning movie! All in a parking lot in the middle of downtown Eureka Springs, Arkansas with 2 camp chairs, bug spray, and a blanket being the only forethought required.

Beginning the first week in June, the outdoor cinema known as Lucky 13 Starlight Theatre features a movie every Sunday night preceded by a local band along with raffle giveaways and theme events such as the best sari contest and runway show that we saw. A wonderful people-watching opportunity where “the audience rivals the actors as entertainment and Eureka’s downtown architecture is as breath-taking as any Hollywood set”.

Thunderstorms the previous night brought a drop in temperature of about 10 degrees and blessed us with weather that was absolutely balmy compared to the previous week. Chloe and I dropped off our camp chairs and walked down north main street to the garden bistro for a lovely dinner that began with an appetizer of squash blossom frite and chilled strawberry soup. at The Garden Bistro you can enjoy flavorful, farm-fresh gourmet dishes created by Chef Lana Campbell.

An update to the garden page with photos from the Garden Bistro is coming soon…

(Originally published on June 29, 2009)

Oprah partnered with people magazine and made a video about Dan Bell’s free Echo Clinic in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Dr. Oz visited the clinic and it was featured on her show today. I missed it, being at work and all, but one of my Facebook friends included the video. You can view the video at oprah.com. Little Eureka Springs is getting a lot of attention as a result of the wonderful, giving people who live there!

Although I was born in Chicago, I’m proud to call this gem of the Ozarks my hometown. My husband and I have a second home there and try to escape to its tranquility every few months or so. The natural setting inspires creativity, so you’ll find numerous articles about Eureka, its people and environs.

(Originally published on May 19, 2009 at www.topmomblog.com )

Vegas is the ultimate playground; there’s a palpable excitement in the air and you just can’t help but be swept up in it. The glamour and bright lights, the adrenaline burst that comes with risk, the expectation. The possibilities…it makes you do things that you would never normally do – caution is thrown to the wind.

My girlfriend and I had been at the pool and she observed that her glasses were not nearly BIG enough – she needed a new pair because, other than a bikini, the only accessory that is de riguer at any pool in Vegas is a pair of glam sunglasses. So mind you, she is the one that caused us to be coerced into the sunglass shop at the Venetian by a tall, handsome and effective salesman. Cha ching! But aren’t they gorgeous and glittery? and the best part is, we’ll actually wear them after we leave – unlike that muumuu I bought in Hawaii.

(Originally published on April 18, 2009 at www.topmomblog.com )

Wow, putting words to my mission was way too serious. One of the things I enjoy about being in the Ozarks is that its like going back in time; and sometimes its like entering an alternate universe….

Take for instance, the conversation I had this afternoon with some girl friends. We were talking about those yearly exams we’re supposed to get and hormone therapy (unfortunately, by revealing this topic I am dating ourselves) which sequed into the new female practitioner at the clinic. One of my friends, lets call her Sara, liked her because it was “Like talking to one of the girls”, plus she left the office with a referral to a psychic pharmacist in a nearby town. by filling out a simple questionnaire, this pharmacist could concoct a hormone cocktail specifically for your unique self. Unfortunately, it wasn’t covered by her insurance and was too expensive so Sara couldn’t go forward with the treatment. I just couldn’t believe it – A psychic pharmacist! Where have I been – this black hole called Orange County could use a few.

Then the conversation moved to the hard water in the area and how it dries out your skin, causes mineral deposits on everything and makes it very difficult to clean showers and fixtures. Rather than buying a water softener, which most people do, sara puts magnets on her plumbing lines which causes positive and negative ions in the minerals to realign or something. its possible I suppose…. keep an eye out for my cosmic chemist column.

(Originally published April 9, 2009)