My neck of the woods

Still been HOT around here -trying to keep cool and everything. At least this past weekend was a little bit less hot -so, we decided it was a fairly good time to take a trip over the hill and through the woods -to grandma's -grandpa's (my dad's) house- and also take a float trip. If you're from around these parts you probably know that'd be the Illinois river around Tahlequah,OK

You see my dad lives out there in the family's cabin -it's pretty primitive but, he's been out there making a few changes -used to have an old outhouse now there's a new "fancy" bath house with real running water complete with toilet, shower, even a washer and a dryer but, the washer is somewhat outside -see:

And we all went on a float trip -we had a boys raft and a girls raft. Been awhile since I've went on a float trip -a fun but exhuasting time - luckily I survived with just a little sunburn and that's after wearing a hat, applying and reapplying sunscreen,and keeping a damp towel around my shoulders. We got home late Sat. night and Sun. morning I woke up to find that the stray kitty had her kittens -7 of them!

So, eventually will need to find them all homes -would like to find the mama kitty a home too -so, if you know anyone -let me know. Now we've been keeping an eye on the kitties and everything - And that's what's going on in my neck of the woods -How about you? Be sure to join in with the RHOK's -Your neck of the woods and let us know!

My neck of the woods

Sorry to miss last week -been pretty busy -busy with what you may ask - Well, in a few words -Family, Friends, and Food!

First I saw some family that was in town Friday before the 4th of July and went to a cookout. Then that weekend we headed out of town to visit my in -laws for the 4th of July -we hit the road and took a little Route 66 detour to Pops on the way too:

Once we got to Lawton we visited with more family -it's a pretty full house there so, we stayed one night at a hotel. Of course it's been mighty hot here and there- we all took a trip to Orange Leaf for a cool 4th of July treat. Later we had a cookout -etc. for dinner and of course some fireworks -not much since technically they had a burn ban.

Then we made our way back home the day after the 4th of July. Later last week we tried a new place here -Top that Pizza -It's kind of like a Subway but, for pizza -you go up and pick out your toppings -etc -and they cook your own personal pizza -pretty cool. Their drink /pop machine supposedly is pretty cool -but, it was out of order when we were there. I'll be excited when they get more (closer) locations -open soon.

(The bottom right pic is the last of the pizza and pop from Pops ;)

And then this past weekend we went to another cookout with my book club group -it was pretty cool to get together and meet most of everyone's spouses and everything and of course have more good food ;) And that's pretty much what's going on around here other than trying to stay cool and get over some kind of cold /sinus issues -blah! So, how's it going in your neck of the woods? Be sure to join in with the RHOK and let us know!

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels -Ch. 1-5

I'm joining in with the RHOK reads:This first book being Oklahoma's own -Pioneer Woman and her love story -Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.

First let me start off by saying although the Pioneer Woman is a fellow Oklahoma Blogger -and I have visited her site -I'm not a devout follower -I know, I know -now you can pick your chin up off the floor ;) For some reason I can sometimes be cynical /not wanting to "buy into the hype". So, although she may have told some of this story on her blog -it is all new to me. And I wasn't really sure if I could relate -even after reading the 1st page of the book where she said - "I was mired in a papery swamp of study guides, marked -up drafts of my resume', listings of Chicago apartments, and a J. Crew catalog, from which I just ordered a $495 wool coat in olive, not chocolate, because I'm a redhead, and because Chicago, I reminded myself is a tad more nippy than Los Angeles, which I just left weeks earlier"
About the only thing I could relate to in that was being a redhead and maybe the drafts of resume's. I don't think I've spent almost $500 on any article of clothing or even $400 in my life! I was a bit surprised to learn that Ree did in fact come from an "affluent" background. But, that aside I have to admit she does write well and as it got juicier -the more interested in the book I got.

I can't say that I've had any ex boyfriends/ dates exactly like hers -even though I might not have minded a "British guy that worked at the country club" -who doesn't love an accent -right? ;) But, what I could relate to is the dating world in general -guys who are into you more than them and vise versa. As I've mentioned some of my ex -experiences before. (I wonder if she was as nervous as I was about writing about ex's -if she changed their names or anything). And as I got more into the heart of the story -it is a love story about how she met her husband and the beginning of their relationship afterall -and it does make you Swoon indeed -Ahh the feelings of new love! But, what about her plans to move to Chicago ? That would probably put a kink in things with her new Marlboro Man -What's a girl to do? -To be continued...

MckLinky Monday -Trips on a tankful

With Spring Break coming up Mrs. Montgomery from the RHOK asks -"What's some places to visit a few hours from your home?"

Well, as most of you know I live in Tulsa,OK and there are quite a few great things here in Tulsa. With that being said there are quite a few good places to visit not too far away as well -Here's not just 1 idea but, a few...

Going South and East about an hour away is Muskogee,Ok -in fact Muskogee has been named 1 of 12 distinctive destinations -you can even vote to make it number 1 until March 15,2011

I always like to visit Honor Heights park there's also the 5 Civilized Tribes Museum nearby among other attractions.

Another idea is taking a trip down historic Route 66 -You could go East or West -If you go west there's a popular restaurant you might've heard about POPS also near there you can also see Arcadia's Round Barn
And last but not least going even further west about 3-4 hours away is Lawton, Ok - 1 of the main attractions there is the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge where you can see buffalo, hike the mountains,-etc. There's also the historic Mattie Beal Home you can visit.

So, there you have it some fun trips on a tankful in Oklahoma :)

Be sure to join in the MckLinky Monday with the RHOK and share some trips on tankful!

Wordless Wednesday -Pumpkin Patch Fun

As I mentioned yesterday over the weekend we had visitors and we all went to the pumpkin patch. Usually we stop at a nearby church that has a pumpkin patch but, I've been wanting to go to a "real" pumpkin patch. So, off to Carmichael's Pumpkin Patch we went! It was the 1st time we've been and I love how it's a genuine country pumpkin patch! With all kinds of activities like a cane maze,animals to feed/see,yummy fudge to eat, and of course lots and lots of pumpkins -It was a fun day!

Just a quick update

As most of you know or probably heard about we had some more bad storms; tornadoes across Oklahoma the other day. Wednesday we spent most of the evening taking precautions -since the sirens and all were going off. Luckily no tornado hit or anything and everything was back to normal -school was even in session the next day (unlike the previous storms that hit.) And speaking of school -it's almost out for summer! I'm feeling a little unprepared-but, I'll be glad to sleep in a little bit hopefully :)
Today I just want to say -TGIF! Saturday is my wedding anniversary! We'll be celebrating 11 yrs! Nothing big planned -just a date night-I'm so ready though!
So, that's about it here other than possible summer plans and such swirling around in my head :)
Well, hope everyone has a good weekend!

What a week!

This week has been kinda crazy -it started out as usual... I don't know about you but, May always seems like a pretty busy/crazy month with Mother's Day,End of school/Beginning of summer,My wedding anniversary-etc,etc.

And as expected we were scheduled to attend some end of school activities at my daughter's school. The 1st one being a cute choir program with her music class. The program was called "It's a musical emergency". The "Dr." and "Nurses" were trying to diagnose and cure the patient and then everyone would breakout out into a song somewhat medically related like the patient has "Boogie Fever" or "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" -and so forth and of course in the end the patient was cured by the "Intensive musical treatment" :) that was Wednesday.

Thursday we were scheduled to attend an awards ceremony at her school -But, for those that don't know a tornado blew through early Thursday morning! I was awakened around 5am by a siren we turned on the TV at the time they were just saying high winds and about 10 minutes later it was over so I went back to sleep for awhile. Later I got up and was going about our normal routine until my husband called to tell us to check the news. It was then I learned there was no school Thursday and as the day went on found out just how bad the weather really was. Luckily our neighborhood wasn't hit as bad as some surrounding neighborhoods. So,we stayed home-I was kinda glad I didn't have to go anywhere since I had been feeling kinda sick anyways.

My husband stayed home Friday so I could go to the Dr.-I had a really bad sore throat,cough,&congestion. I got medicine and am feeling better-Still not fully recovered yet-So,I haven't been really active on the blogosphere-etc.

Even though I'm still recovering we did go out to Mayfest-etc. Saturday. And kinda getting things done and relaxing at home today. Oh and guess what else I've been doing?

Yep!-we've also been recording what TV we're watching for Nielson -It's kinda cool but also kinda a pain to remember to write everything down. So,that's our week -How about you?

Update on bench and other things outside

As you might remember last week I mentioned that I have a new bench and I'm not exactly sure what to do with my old bench (that post is here -I know it's maybe a little wordy for wordless wednesday ;)

Well,you all gave me a great idea of where to put the old bench -See:

I wouldn't have really thought to put it against the back of the house with the ivy -So,Thanks!

Also as part of my Mother's day gift we got some plants to put in the front flower bed this past Saturday:

I'm really glad to have something in there besides grass and weeds!

I had seen those plants before and wanted to get some -I didn't even know what they are called but,I do now -Purple hearts!

Also I guess even in the plant world there is the circle of life because I put in some new plants and since we've had all the stormy/windy weather I found this:

Part of the Rose bush has fallen down-But,I guess I should be grateful that is all we lost in weather -I know some people in Oklahoma and other places lost a lot more-Keeping them in my prayers!

April 19, 1995 -Where I was;MckLinky Monday

Today on the Real Housewives of Oklahoma's MckLinky Monday they ask - April 19, 1995 -Where were you? I think to most Oklahomans that date will forever stand out in our minds. For those that might not know/remember April 19,1995 was the date of the Oklahoma City Bombing:

And where was I ?...
Well, I was still fairly young - I was in fact sitting in Driver's Ed class at my high school (In Muskogee if you remember from my previous post.) So, like a lot of my peers we were just in class going about our day as usual- until... For me I remember the teacher turned on the TV and we saw some of the first news coverage. I don't remember if we were about to watch some driving video or if the teacher heard about what was going on and turned it on. But, there we all were watching about the Oklahoma City Bombing. Of course like everyone else we heard more and more details as the days went by. And as the years went by- especially as Oklahomans it is always a day of remembrance for those lives and families affected by something so tragic. And even though it's so close to home fortunately I am not 1 of those personally affected. I have heard acquaintance's accounts of what happened that day and I'm sure there's many other people I know that have been personally affected and I might not even know it.

I visited the Oklahoma City Bombing memorial a few years ago and as the 15th anniversary of this tragedy passes today I hope everyone will think of not just those that lost their lives but, also the survivors -Just like the Survivor Tree:

And as the inscription around the Survivor Tree deck reads:

"The spirit of this city and this nation will not be defeated; our deeply rooted faith sustains us"

Where I come from -MckLinky Monday

On The Real Housewives of Oklahoma blog today they ask -Where do you come from ?

Well, I'm an Okie for sure -Lived in Oklahoma all my life! I've lived a few different places in OK though...

To start I was born where I live now -In Tulsa. My parents,little sis, and I even lived in the famous Lortondale neighborhood. I don't remember much about that time -I know that I went to Miss Helen's private school for a little bit and Hoover elementary. Then when I was in 1st grade my parents got divorced -my sis and I moved between my mom and dad for awhile. Once everything was finalized my dad got primary custody of us though. Eventually we moved to his hometown -Muskogee. This is where I lived for most of my formative years and graduated high school and everything - So,definitely an Okie from Muskogee!

I was just there this past weekend helping to go through my grandma's stuff,taking pictures to catalog it and everything. Luckily I didn't try to go to the mall -So tragic and scary there was a shooting Saturday at Arrowhead Mall and during the Azalea festival! The mall I remember going to so many times growing up-I even won a shopping spree from there once!

So much family history in Muskogee -This weekend I also got a picture of a Mural that shows my Grandpa (He's supposed to be the guy in the middle -on the bike)

But, then again there's Tulsa too... We would go visit my mom -You know how it goes-switching holidays and weekends and everything. My other grandma lives here in Tulsa and we'd visit her too of course. We'd go around Tulsa and see the "big city" - And being that Tulsa isn't too far from Muskogee sometimes there'd even be a school field trip to Bell's or other places around Tulsa...

And, so it goes- the 2 parts of my formative years -Where I come from. And not too mention a few other places I've lived -Like Lawton where I met my husband and where my in-law's live -But, that's a whole other story :)

More Snow...

It seems like lately around these parts of Oklahoma there's been a lot of snow -In fact there has been a lot of snow! I know I heard on the news there 's a higher amount than normal but, now I can't remember specifics. You might remember me mention the Christmas Eve Blizzard of '09 -Here. And just a couple weeks ago we got some ice and snow -Some people were calling it the iceapalooza of 2010 -Saying it might be as bad as the ice storm of '07. Luckily it wasn't that bad and our powered stayed on this time. Here's some pics of the ice/snow about Jan. 29,2010:

1st the ice started then the snow came. The kids were out of school that Friday-And we all kinda hunkered down.

Then more snow came yesterday -Originally it was reported to start Sunday night-I was a little bit hoping for another snow day yesterday. But,it was just rain until after school started. Once it started snowing it came in huge fluffy flakes- A lot of people said it was like a giant feather pillow fight ;) It really started coming down and even started to stick but not for long-It all melted pretty fast- Darn-no snow day again! -I might've mention I'm not an early riser ;) But I did get a few pics before it all melted yesterday:

So, that's the snow we've gotten lately -And I wouldn't doubt if we had another round or so. -I say hurry up spring!