Seeing Clearly

This will probably be a short post because, frankly, I’m a little emotional.

Yesterday, after years of yearning for laser correction for my eyes, I finally had the surgery. It was a Christmas gift from my husband, Keith. Honestly, this is hands-down the best gift I’ve ever received.

I’ve worn glasses since I was about a sixth grader. I cried and screamed when I learned I had to have them. And have pretty much hated every single minute of wearing glasses all these decades later.

Don’t get me wrong, I know I needed them. I’d have never made it through school without glasses, nor would I have ever obtained a driver’s license or learned to shoot a gun competently. In the olden days, I could easily have ended life as a lion’s breakfast or been run over by a herd of buffalo. That’s how bad my vision was.

But this morning, I’m able to see the beautiful trees in our pasture – their leaves, twigs, and buds. I can see the birds perched in the trees, and the butterflies crossing under them. I can see individual blades of grass bend as they are touched by the breeze.

Small things, but just something I’d never done without glasses.

Of all the stress and experiences I’ve been through lately – I just find it ironic that it’s the beauty of nature that is now what’s making me cry.

Parole A Pet graduates fetch their diplomas

Parole A Pet trainer Colleen Crummy (right) puts trainers and their canine charges through a final exam during their graduation from the program Sunday, Aug. 28, at Cushing Correctional Facility. The ten-week obedience program allows inmates to train shelter dogs in preparation for their new life as family pets. Trainers (from left) are Daryl Davis and Muggins, Chris Young and Feather, Jacob McKenzie and LadyBird, Jason Cleary and Bea, and Clifton Jones and Roscoe.

They wag their tails instead of tossing their caps in the air, but the pride and sense of accomplishment is apparent among graduates from the Parole A Pet program at Cushing Correctional Facility.
The most recent class, five dogs and ten trainers, completed their final exams and received their certificates Sunday, Aug. 28, at the prison in Cushing, Okla.
The Parole A Pet program matches shelter dogs with CCF inmates, who spend 10 weeks living with them and training them to be obedient and responsive pets.
To participate in the Parole A Pet program, inmates must attain Level 4 status, which is the highest at CCF. Level 4 rewards good behavior with privileges, such as participation in programs like PAP. Inmates who are interested in becoming a PAP trainer must apply and be approved by a case manager. Once approved to participate in the program, inmates are assigned their four-legged pupils. They must attend weekly classes and spend time training their dogs, which live in the cell with them for the duration of the ten-week program.
Inmates don’t necessarily need to have experience with dogs, but instead must have a desire to help the animals and a commitment to stick with their training regimen.
“One of the biggest challenges the trainers face is learning how to deal with a different dog each time,” Colleen Crummy, PAP trainer said. “The dogs come from different backgrounds; some have faced abuse. Others are just easier or more difficult to train.
“We just have to figure out what each dog responds to.”

Bea keeps a close eye on her trainer, Jason Cleary, as she waits to meet her new owners.

Karen Mormando smiles as she meets her new pet, Bea, and Bea’s trainer, Jason Cleary, during their graduation from the Parole A Pet program at Cushing Correctional Facility Sunday.

Crummy and program founder Rebecca Stowers of the Cimarron Valley Humane Society conduct the weekly training sessions with the dogs and their handlers. Then, it’s up to the training partners to work together to put the training into practice.
“We have a very good success rate, and the guys who are in the program work hard to earn the privilege and really enjoy making a difference in the dogs’ lives,” Crummy said. “I’ve never had to kick a student from the program.”
One of this session’s graduates, a female chocolate Labrador retriever named LadyBird, is a good representative of a PAP program success story.
Eddie Bermea, co-trainer of LadyBird, said when the dog came to the prison, she was in bad shape – very thin and frightened.
Bermea said, “She almost looked like one of those starved horses you see in comics. You could see her ribs and bones all sticking out.”
During her graduation Sunday, however, it was easy to see LadyBird had blossomed into a friendly, energetic and playful dog with a full and glossy brown coat.
Mike Munday, PAP case manager, said, “This program probably saved this dog’s life. When she came here, she was just skin and bones, and very scared.”
Bermea, who said he had little experience with dogs before the PAP program, agreed, noting, “Probably the biggest obstacle we face with the dogs is not knowing their history. They have a lot to overcome sometimes.”
Jacob McKenzie, co-trainer of LadyBird, said he had prior experience training bird dogs, so it was easy for him to relate that to training the lab.
Still, McKenzie said he enjoyed learning more about training dogs.
McKenzie said, “The more you do, the more you learn. It’s sad to see them go, it’s kind of like a kid. She’s an amazing dog all the way around.”
Immediately following her graduation, LadyBird went to her new home with a local family.
Daryl Davis, who been in program about one year, said he has trained about seven dogs so far.
Davis and Diontay Perry were trainers for a busy white ball of energy named Muggins.
Davis observed, “Muggins is very intelligent and playful. She’s been fun to train.”
Muggins, a shar pei mix, is recovering from eyelid surgery. Shar peis, which have soft, wrinkly skin, often suffer from maladies involving their facial skin, Crummy said.
Davis said the surgery didn’t slow the playful dog down, however.
Davis said he enjoys being in the PAP program so he can make a difference with the dogs, and perhaps save their lives. He is looking forward to receiving his next canine pupil. “It’s definitely a challenge sometimes, but I enjoy it.”
“If I don’t get started [with a new dog] right away,” he joked. “I’ll get dog anxiety.”
Muggins has been adopted by Dawn and Pat Farrell, who were able to attend the graduation ceremony Sunday.
A bright and friendly little lab mix named Roscoe also participated in the graduation ceremony Sunday. Roscoe’s trainer, Clifton Jones, said the little tan dog with extremely soft fur still has a few weeks left in his training, but he’ll be ready to go home with someone soon.
Rounding out this class were two female border collie mixes, Feather and Bea, who are siblings.
Crummy said she was pleased to be able to keep the dogs together in the program.
Though the dogs both sport a beautiful dark chestnut color and freckled faces and feet, Feather is long-haired, while Bea is short-haired.
John Simpson and Jason Cleary, co-trainers of Bea, also look forward to each new canine pupil.
Simpson, who’s been in the program for about two years, said he thinks the biggest hurdle the dogs face is socializing with other dogs and people.
Simpson said, “The dogs have a lot of fear when they come in. Also, while we’re training them, we sometimes have to deal with guys who don’t like dogs.
“The dogs have distinct personalities, quirks. It can be a challenge, but the rewards are much more than the negatives.”
Simpson added, “The best thing about this program is the joy. That’s tough to find in this place. I really look forward to getting up and working with the dogs. We’re with them in a 10-by-12-foot cell, day and night.
“Without having them in there, well, it’s just quiet. It’s sad.

Feather’s trainers, Chris Young and John Tarepen, said they also enjoy working with the canines.
Young has spent the most time, the past four years, working within the PAP program. He said he had no prior experience training dogs.
Young said, “I enjoy changing the dogs into canine good citizens. We love to watch them bloom.”
Young said he’s trained everything from a Cairn terrier to a shepherd mix. He loves to do research and read books on dog training, and tries to use methods offered by Cesar Milan, who is known as the “Dog Whisperer.”
“It’s fun, but frustrating at times,” Young said. “Not the dogs, but the challenge of training them here.
“Distractions such as noise sometimes make it tough to train the dogs. We figure if they can learn and make it through the racket here, they can deal with just about anything.”
Since the dogs live in the cell with their inmate trainers, all of the training takes place either in the cell or out in a common area shared by all inmates.
Young said he enjoys training the dogs so much, he hopes to make it into a career when he is released.
Feather, and her sister Bea, have been adopted by a Moore, Okla. couple who traveled to Cushing to attend the PAP graduation.

Recent canine graduates from the Parole A Pet program waiting patiently for their final exam.

Graduates of the Parole A Pet program head out of Cushing Correctional Facility Sunday following their graduation. From left are Ralph Zollars with Bea, PAP trainer Colleen Crummy with LadyBird, Karen Mormando with Feather, Rebecca Stowers of the Cimarron Valley Humane Society, and Dawn and Pat Farrell with Muggins.

“This was the first time I got to meet my dog’s new owners,” Young said.
Karen Mormando and Ralph Zollars, who adopted the two border collie mixes, said, they found the dogs through a border collie rescue group online.
Mormando said, “We are thrilled to be able to come to their graduation and meet their trainers.”
Young, who also participates in other programs at the prison, such as learning to play the piano and sing, and becoming part of a praise and worship team, said, “[PAP] is a chance to make a positive impact on [the dogs’] lives, and their new owner’s lives, from behind these walls.”
For more information about the Parole A Pet program, visit http://cimarronvalleyhumane.org, and click the “Parole A Pet” link, or call (918) 225-3785.
Available dogs that have completed the Parole A Pet program may be viewed online at Petfinder.com. Just enter “Cimarron Valley Humane Society” in the search field.

Printed in The Perkins Journal, Sept. 1, 2011

Have we changed latitude?

Yeah, this is another post about Oklahoma weather.

We are currently in a weird cycle of rain and cool weather that makes me wonder if whe have somehow switched climates with Seattle.

I guess it could be their revenge for losing their NBA team to Oklahoma City. Who knows?

This morning I was awakened early once again by the weather radio notifying us that a thunderstorm was headed our way. I checked the weather map on tv and saw that a strong gust front with large hail was barreling down upon us. Sighing, I got dressed and went out to move all of my potted plants under the car port. (Those were the ones I moved back out into the sunshine just yesterday.)

Luckily, we missed the hail bullet but did receive a lot of pouring rain.

This morning when I took Maddie to school, I noticed the ditches were full, with some threatening to spill out onto Highway 33. By now, the water probably is across the road.

So, being a good Oklahoman, instead of writing this morning, I’ve been either watching the weather on tv or out the window.

I’ve also been watching the water rise in my flooded shed.

Flooded shed

Rainwater often does spill across the patio and against the shed wall, where it leaks inside. But I have never seen this much water in the shed. The ruler is now showing nearly two inches!

I saw what looked like Maddie’s little cream-colored cat rolling around down in the pasture. I thought, “What a weird cat. She’s rolling around out in the rain.”

Mini-fountain from flooded gopher hole

Then I took a closer look and realized it was water shooting out of the ground! Apparently, a gopher tunnel has become flooded and the water had nowhere else to go. I hope it makes the gopher decide to move.

It’s been raining steadily for several hours now, and it is expected to continue all day and into the night. They’re even forecasting severe weather here tonight, with a chance of more thunderstorms or tornadoes.

Guess I won’t be doing any work all day!

‘Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler’

Local artists display their work for sale at Jackson Square. We found some paintings perfect for the kitchen and Maddie's bath.

Sampling absinthe at a quiet little pub on Pirate's Alley.

The Jackson Hotel is one of the stops on the Haunted History Tour.

Jackson Square is a nice spot for a break.

St. Louis Cathedral is a lovely backdrop to Jackson Square.

Spontaneous jazz bands can be seen all over the quarter. This one draws a crowd near the French Market.

Get ready to have some fun!

The Red Fish Grill's two-course “Red Plate Special” features a choice of dishes. Try the BBQ Shrimp Poboy with the Sweet Potato and Shrimp Bisque and pair it with a pint of Turbo Dog Abita beer.

Take a river cruise on the Mississippi aboard the Natchez steamboat.

A statue of Jesus in St. Anthony’s Garden at night throws a distinctive shadow upon the rear of St. Louis Cathedral.

St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest in the United States, presides over Jackson Square.

Primo’s on Decatur Street offers “New Orleans Italian Cuisine,” such as this Primo’s Pie.

The New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co. is a favorite of locals. The restaurant offers burgers, sandwiches and seafood poboys. Check out this ‘small’ 60-piece Shrimp Poboy!

My husband, Keith, said he wanted to go to New Orleans for his birthday this year. We contacted his cousin, Candy, to see if she’d like to come, too. (It was her birthday, too, and we thought she and husband Tommy would like to celebrate with us.) I thought that was a brilliant idea!
I quickly got to work nailing down our travel arrangements.
We wanted to enjoy as much of the true New Orleans flavor as we could, so we decided to avoid chain hotels and find a unique inn or B&B. Candy and Tommy live in Crowley, La., so they were able to recommend lots of the best sites to visit. Candy’s brother, Tab, her sister, Jean, and her husband, Jeff, also came to join in the fun.
I wrote a travel article about our trip for The Perkins Journal. It appeared in the Feb. 25 issue. Below, I pasted the full-length version of the article:

‘Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler’

One of the grand old cities of the South, New Orleans, La., has a fascinating history, but it’s the city’s sultry elegance and spirit that draws visitors. Despite difficulties spawned by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the city continues to be the place to ‘Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler’ (Let the good times roll).
Earlier this month, my husband and I joined family in New Orleans for a long weekend.
We wanted to see as much of the city’s famous French Quarter as possible, so we decided to stay right in the district so we could walk to see the sights.
A quick visit to the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitor Bureau website (www.neworleanscvb.com) revealed a wealth of information on sights and activities, plus lots of choices for lodging. We selected the beautiful and historic Hotel Monteleone.

The historic Hotel Monteleone, a cornerstone of the French Quarter, offers superb service in luxurious surroundings. The hotel has long been known as a literary landmark due to its popularity with many well-known authors.

Hotel Monteleone (www.hotelmonteleone.com), which first opened in 1886, is located at 214 Royal Street, just one block south of Bourbon Street. One step inside the hotel’s lobby reveals the luxury and service for which it is known. The spacious lobby opens into two restaurants and the Carousel Piano Bar and Lounge, which features a slowly-spinning round bar. The hotel lobby is beautifully decorated and features marble, crystal and antiques. Several historical displays also illustrate the hotel’s illustrious past.
Hotel Monteleone guest rooms reflect the elegance of the hotel. Our suite on the 14th floor featured a roomy parlor, two flat-screen televisions, a mini bar, an in-room safe, a Jacuzzi, granite and marble baths, a deliciously comfortable bed and amenities such as robes and chocolate-dipped strawberries. The room also had a fabulous view of the French Quarter and the Mississippi River. Room rates start at $149 for a traditional king or two doubles.
Numerous restaurants and bars are within easy walking distance of the hotel, but thoughts of delicious Cajun cuisine tempted us, so as soon as our plane landed, we went on a quest for a Louisiana staple, the poboy sandwich.
A local at the airport recommended the New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Co. The restaurant is located at 6920 Veterans in Metaire, La., which was on the way to the French Quarter where we would be staying. The restaurant’s Poboy sandwiches, with lightly fried fish that is seasoned just right, are a good choice. Opt for the Shrimp Poboy ($6.95 for a small) or an Oyster Poboy for $11.50. The sandwiches come with Garlic Herb Fries, and they go great with Abita beer, which is produced in Louisiana.
After checking into the Monteleone, we decided to take a stroll down world-famous Bourbon Street. Though known for its nightlife, Bourbon Street also features lots of great restaurants.
Pat O’Brien’s Bar, 718 St. Peter, is one of those must-see spots. Pat O’Brien’s, a speakeasy during prohibition, was converted to a “legitimate drinking establishment” in 1933.
Even if you don’t stay for a Focaccia Muffaletta Italian sandwich or some Alligator Bites, you simply must see Pat O’Brien’s flaming fountain on the patio. Tip: It’s best viewed while sipping a Hurricane.
The heart of New Orleans is the French Quarter, and the heart of the French Quarter is Jackson Square.
The center of the beautiful Jackson Square, a historic park originally named Place D’Armes, features a statue of Andrew Jackson. The park was renamed in his honor following the Battle of New Orleans in 1814. Today, this picturesque park is a favorite of visitors, who stroll the park’s lovely gardens and pose for photos before St. Louis Cathedral, which sits just north of the square.
It’s also a great place to pick up some original art by local artists, whose work lines the outer boundaries of the square.
Lots of unique shops also line the square and extend into the surrounding streets. This is the place to find more original art, t-shirts, local foods, New Orleans souvenirs, and of course, your voodoo supplies.
No visit to New Orleans is complete without a stop at Café Du Monde Coffee Stand, just across the street from Jackson Square. Café Du Monde, established in 1862, is world famous for its delicious coffees and beignets. Try a cup of café au lait or chicory coffee ($2.14 a cup) and a plate of beignets, a type of fried bread that is served with mounds of powdered sugar (three for $2.14). Here’s a tip: don’t wear dark colored clothes or you’ll be bearing little white splotches all day.
Just down Decatur Street is the French Market, which is worth a visit. You can find deals on t-shirts and Louisiana foods or souvenirs and lots of jewelry, scarves, or a feathered Mardi Gras mask. I picked up a box of Mam Papaul’s King Cake Mix for $10, and Keith found a fun coffin-shaped flask for $10.
Make sure to stop off at Southern Candymakers near the French Market for some delicious fresh pralines or specialty fudges such as praline fudge or cranberry pecan fudge.
After a day of walking, we were ready to sit down for a nice dinner, and the Red Fish Grill, 115 Bourbon Street, fit the ticket.
The grill, voted the number one seafood restaurant for four years in a row, offers a variety of delectable dishes, including a two-course “Red Plate Special,” which features a choice of dishes for $11.95. We tried the BBQ Shrimp Poboy with the Sweet Potato and Shrimp Bisque, and the BBQ Oyster Poboy and Alligator, Sausage & Seafood Gumbo. All are delicious. Also worth a try are the raw oysters on the half-shell, $14.95 for 12. Other tempting items: Garlic Crab Pot, Lake Pontchartrain Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Crispy Boudin Cakes. Accompany your choices with Abita beer – Turbo Dog or Amber.
After fortifying yourself, take in one of the many historic tours New Orleans offers.
Since we were in the “most haunted city in America,” we opted for the Haunted History Tour (www.hauntedhistorytours.com). Our tour guide, Eugenia, led us on a walking tour of many of the French Quarter sites reputed to be haunted. We departed from Rev. Zombie’s Voodoo Shop, 723 St. Peter Street, (another spot to get some really unique souvenirs) just north of Jackson Square. The tour includes lots of infamous locations, including the La Laurie Mansion, the Jackson Hotel, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, and Pirate’s Alley.
Tours are $20 for adults; $10 children 12 and younger. It’s a good idea to reserve your spot, and I highly recommend the 8 p.m. tour. There’s nothing like strolling the old cobbled streets of the French Quarter after dark!
It wasn’t planned, but our visit coincided with Superbowl weekend. New Orleans has the reputation of throwing parties at the drop of a hat, so this weekend, which was also the week prior to Mardi Gras, was really hopping.
We took in a couple of Carnival parades and caught our share of beads thrown from the floats. Our cousin, Tommy, had a good evening at Harrah’s Casino, so he treated the whole family to a champagne brunch at The Buffet at Harrah’s Casino. Prime rib, snow crab legs, boiled shrimp, and a fabulous dessert spread stars in this huge buffet. Harrah’s is easy to find; it’s in an enormous building on south Canal Street. The brunch is offered from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays; $29.99 per person.
Overall, the crowds, while large, were in very good spirits – especially after the Saints won the game. Still, Bourbon Street that evening was an adventure. In addition to the usual revelry, every other person you passed offered a high five and, along with cheers, you’d hear “Who Dat?” shouted every few seconds.
Even with the large crowds, it is apparent New Orleans is proud of its streets, businesses and heritage. One of the Carnival parades drew a large crowd, but as soon as the parade wrapped up, city sanitation crews appeared as if by magic. Street sweepers cleaned up debris on the streets and tanker crews came right behind them, washing the streets.
Police officers are a constant presence, making visitors in the Quarter feel safe, no matter what time of day or night.
For our final day, we decided to try something different for dinner, so we visited Primo’s, 541 Decatur Street, for “New Orleans Italian Cuisine.” Primo’s offers the standard Italian fare, such as lasagna and pastas. We tried the Primo’s Pie ($14.95), which features alfredo, basil, spinach, fried shrimp and three cheese Italian blend. It was light and delicious; just right to share. Enjoy your meal out on the balcony with a Nawlins Golden Ale, another locally-brewed beer.
New Orleans is often billed as a great place for adults to visit, and Bourbon Street is certainly no place for kids, but I noted several attractions children would enjoy.
The Haunted History Tour is not too scary for kids. The same tour company offers a New Orleans Cemetery Tour, which also comes highly recommended. Gray Line also offers other tours – both walking and by bus – of the French Quarter, the Garden District, cemeteries, plantations, and Katrina tours of the Ninth Ward. (www.graylineneworleans.com)
Lots of horse-drawn carriages are available for an old-fashioned tour of the French Quarter as well. The carriages line up on Decatur Street at the south side of Jackson Square.
River cruises on the fabulous Natchez steamboat would also be a fun activity for children. Fares for a cruise and dinner, or just a cruise are available. (www.steamboatnatchez.com)
The Audubon Insectarium, 423 Canal Street, is a new addition to the city. The museum offers insect encounters, a butterfly garden, and lots of other hands-on activities. The center was named “Best New Attraction” for 2009. Tickets for children 2-12 are $10; adults are $15.
The Audubon Nature Institute also has an attractive aquarium, which is adjacent to the French Quarter. The aquarium includes sharks, rays, penguins, sea otters, and other sea creatures. Children’s tickets are $11.50; adults $18.50.
Finally, the Audubon Zoo, located in Uptown New Orleans, offers a variety of animals from around the world. It features special habitats, the Louisiana Swamp and the Jaguar Jungle. Zoo tickets are $11.50 for children; $18.50 for adults.
For more information on any of these Audubon attractions, visit www.auduboninstitute.org.
We spent four days in New Orleans’ French Quarter and didn’t even touch a fraction of what the city has to offer.
The friendliness of the people, from street vendors to police officers to hotel and restaurant staff left a lasting impression of a city that is eager to welcome visitors. Without exception, they all offered us Lagniappe – a little extra.
We’ll be back.

The Great Oklahoma Blizzard of 2009

Yes, I’m a survivor (so far) of the Great Oklahoma Blizzard of 2009.

Today, Dec. 25, we’re enjoying very, very bright sunshine being reflected off mounds of snow that fell yesterday. I don’t know how much snow we actually received, but what we did get was deposited in artful drifts by strong winds. The drifts really created havoc with roads and highways across the state. At one point last night, all of the interstate highways in Oklahoma were closed, along with Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City.

Whoever hadn’t get made it to Grandma’s house by around noon or so yesterday was out of luck.

We traveled to Keith’s mom’s home south of Wynnewood, Oklahoma on Wednesday. I’m glad we did because we pulled our camper/trailer down here with us. We had hoped to leave this morning, but I don’t think that’s gonna happen. Our SUV would probably have no trouble on the roads, but I doubt the trailer would even make it to I-35.

My son Wil waited til late yesterday morning to head down here, but he didn’t make it. It took him quite awhile to just get to Guthrie, where he stopped to clear his windshied wipers then head to Edmond, where he stopped to stay with his girlfriend Jerra and her family.

I’m glad he was able to get somewhere safe and warm, but wish he was here with the family in Wynnewood.

Our nephew Kris tried to make it up from Houston, but got stopped in the Dallas area. Glad he had somewhere to take refuge from the storm.

It’s been interesting watching Facebook and text updates from other friends and family.

Yvette thought she would be stuck at The Oklahoman office, but was rescued last night. Kendra and her kids were iced in at Lawton, unable to get home to Stillwater.

Bob, a Stillwater firefighter, reported he was on an ambulance run that got stuck a few houses down from where their call was. Luckily, the call wasn’t a life-or-death situation!

But most people were reporting from a warm and safe spot, even if it wasn’t quite where they had planned to spend the Christmas holiday.

For now, I’m content to sit here by the fire and sip hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps.

Will keep you posted on our attempt to get home…

Updates!

Yes, finally an update!

I’ve had lots going on in my life during the past couple of months, and have been challenged getting used to my new schedule. Things are working out wonderfully, however, so I’m making a determined effort to get better with blogging.

As I noted awhile back, in March I left the weekly newspaper I had been with for about 10 years. I wasn’t enjoying my job as much as I used to, so it was time to try something new. That something is freelance writing and editing. I’m really enjoying it, so far!

I still write a couple stories a week for The Journal and have recently become a writer for a regional magazine called The Corridor (www.corridor-magazine.com), which focuses on an area of north central Oklahoma kind of south of Stillwater down to Stroud and Chandler, along old Route 66. The area includes a bunch of little towns and a large rural area.

My work for The Corridor will be producing feature stories, which I love. I got off to a fun start for the June issue writing about a local horse rescue organization called Johnson Equine Rescue. Check out their website at:  www.johnsonequinerescue.com.

I had a great time interviewing Dixie Johnson and visiting with the horses. I really fell in love with an appaloosa named Chance. What a sweety! Dixie invited me and Maddie to come out sometime, which Maddie is all for. Hope to do that sometime soon.

On the acting front, I recently completed my first film role. The indie film, titled “Dog Named Clara,” was written and directed by Scott Bryant. I was fascinated by how the scenes were shot. It’s SO different from theatre! Very little rehearsal, which kind of rattled me, as those of you who know me well will understand. We had our script for a couple of months, and my part was small, so I didn’t have much to memorize. However, it’s always different recalling your lines during private rehearsal and recalling them when you are interacting with other actors. People speak lines differently than you had imagined, your blocking (stage movement) is thrown into the mix, plus you may be handling props or whatever. It takes a few runs to get used to it all enough that it’s second nature. We only ran through lines and blocking a few times before Scott said, “Ok, we’ll film this take.” And then, we were on.

And then, we did the same bit again, but the camera shot it from behind me. And then, we did the same bit again, but the camera shot it from behind another actor. And so on…

It was really very fascinating. I would love to be involved with another film and see how all of those parts are put together into one cohesive story.

I don’t really know how it all works, but I believe after Scott finishes the film, he’ll attempt to find a studio to either sell it to or obtain help in producing it. Will keep you posted.

Speaking of film, I also have another project going on. I am the new “Author of the Month” coordinator for TV31 in Stillwater. (http://www.tv31.net/sportsmanch.html)

The segment appears on The Morning Edition show the third Wednesday of each month. I appeared as featured writer last year and had a lot of fun, so I was very interested in this new role when it was suggested to me. I don’t appear on camera; I just find interesting writers and authors in our area who agree to hold still long enough to be interviewed.

Eric Reitan, agreed to be my first “guinea pig” (his words, or was that “lab rat?”) He was on the May 20 show with his new book “Is God a Delusion?” Eric is a friend and is coincidentally, an associate professor of philosophy at Oklahoma State University. He did a great job on the show, and I appreciate his willingness to be my ‘first.’ Check out Eric’s blog:  www.thepietythatliesbetween.blogspot.com for some spirited discussion.

I have a few other authors already penciled in for the next few months, so stay tuned and I’ll let you know who they’ll be.

Well, that’s most of it in a nutshell. I’ll keep ya posted on what’s happening in our corner of Oklahoma. Please feel free to leave a comment below!

We Cleaned Up

Yeah, we cleaned up Perkins yesterday during the annual Trash-Off.

Seventy-four people showed up to help pick up trash around town. We were very excited about that. We were just hoping to break last year’s record of 25 volunteers.

Don’t know if it was the beautiful weather that made the difference, or the promise of a free breakfast and lunch that did it, but something really worked.

We had volunteers from Oklahoma Lions Boys Ranch, Eden Chapel, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Payne County Bank, the Perkins Lions Club, Country Comfort, Perkins Veterinary Clinic, and from the sponsoring organizations, the City of Perkins and Perkins Community Chamber of Commerce.

We picked up nearly a ton of trash along streets and highways! Sadly, there was more out there, but we definitely made a huge difference.

Please everyone – don’t litter!

Gettin’ Trashy

Hope you are thinking of something you can do for Earth Day this month.

Since I’m a member of the Perkins Community Chamber of Commerce, I decided I’d help organize our annual Trash-Off event.

It’s pretty simple. Volunteers from all over Oklahoma just go out and pick up trash in their area.

We are going to provide donuts and juice for breakfast and box lunches for our volunteers.

We’ll also have prizes! The largest group to show up and help will win $50 in Perkins Bucks. The group or person who picks up the most trash will win $100, and $50 will go to the person who finds the most unusual item.

In years past, there have been some odd things found – a hamster cage (complete with dead hamster), and last year someone found a set of fingerprints.

If you can’t help out around Perkins, please find a little stretch of roadway or a park that needs a little TLC. Everyone will thank you!

Plaza is taking shape

Things are happening at the Oklahoma Territorial Plaza in Perkins.

Restoration of the Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton home are progressing nicely. The building is sporting a new roof which, along with new windows, trim, etc., has really spiffed up the place.

The transportation museum is also coming along. The building, an old ceramic-style service station that was moved here from Stillwater, is being restored by the Cimarron Starlite Cruisers Car Club (http://slauener.tripod.com/). Dan Turner, a member of the club, told me today the club has been busily replacing water lines, valves and walls in the building. They also noted the building was not quite square, so they called Dennis Beyl to come straighten it out. Beyl’s company moved the building from it’s original location in Stillwater to the park last year. Dan said the building was about seven inches out of whack, but Dennis got that straightened up in a jiffy. While cleaning out the building, club member Shelby Lauener noted a jug that had the top cut off sitting on a shelf. As he grabbed the jug, he realized it was partially filled with oil. The jug had made the trip from Stillwater to Perkins without spilling! What a testament to Beyl’s moving abilities!

I also noted today that Beyl has piled some railroad ties next to the Old Church Center in downtown Perkins. That building is due to be moved out to the park any time now. It will be so interesting to watch that process. The church has a bell tower, so electrical lines and trees will have to be moved along the route.

It’s hoped most of the buildings will be open and ready for visitors by Pete’s Market Day, which will be held Saturday, May 9. That’s only a month off, so we’re hoping the weather cooperates with the restoration work.

At home

The working from home thing has gotten off to a good start.
I worked on a few ongoing jobs and got a surprising call on another. So I’ve got that going on.
I actually got a lot more done than I had expected as this week is Spring Break at the school, so Maddie is at home. She usually needs to be entertained when we’re at home, so I really didn’t know how today would go. However,
we’re having our roof worked on this week and the roofer brought his daughter (who is also out of school) and a couple of her friends along. They are all about the same age and I hardly heard a peep out of them all day. (Well, except for the howling. I don’t know what the game was, but they were howling like a pack of coyotes most of the day.)
The weather was really nice today so they played out in the woods and pasture and barn. Maddie got wore out and a little bit of a sunburn. They had a great time.
It made me think about playing outside in the summer when I was a kid.
I grew up in Plains, Kansas, which is about half the size of Perkins. There were probably 30 kids in our immediate neighborhood, so you could always count on having something to do.
Of course, this was before video or computer games. We only had three channels on the television and, other than Saturday mornings, there wasn’t a lot of kids programming, anyway.
But outdoors, there were oodles of things to do. We’d play freeze tag, put on our own plays, make forts, invent our own games, or just hang out.
Red Light/Green Light, Red Rover, Duck/Goose, Spotlight and riding bikes filled our days.
We’d walk barefoot uptown to the pool on hot days, and were always sorry we forgot our flip-flops when we had to cross the hot, black asphalt on Main Street. That stuff was so hot, it felt like a sizzling, mushy marshmallow as you ran across. It felt so good to put your seared feet in the pool.
At night, we’d lay on the ground and look at the stars. Funny, but you could see the stars so much better back then. I really have to look now to find the Milky Way.
Light pollution, National Geographic says. That’s a topic for another post.

Wrapping it up

Tomorrow will be my last day as editor of The Journal. Mixed feelings, as you can imagine.

I really loved being with the paper most of the time. Every day was different. I met so many wonderful people, learned so much and had some great experiences.

My all-time favorite part about being a journalist was writing feature stories. I interviewed some truly interesting and unique people.  I loved interviewing World War II veteran Anthony Dean. Anthony’s war experience included being a prisoner of war. I also wrote about Buddy Drake when to everyone’s dismay, he decided to close his store which had been at Drake’s Corner about as long as anyone can remember. Doyle Parrack’s story of his life as a basketball player and coach was another interesting one.

There are many more stories, too numerous to mention here. The one thing they all had in common was they surprised me in some way, and almost certainly, they taught me something, too.

There are some things I won’t miss about the weekly newspaper. Working on Mondays and Tuesdays can be a drag. I’ve always likened newspapers to having livestock – you’ve gotta care for them, whether it’s a holiday or not, even when you are sick or you have to drive to town in an ice storm. That’s certainly something I won’t miss. Neither will my family.

Anyway, below is part of my last personal column, which appeared in today’s issue of The Perkins Journal.

Well, this will be my last “Ain’t It The Truth” column. My last day as editor-in-chief of The Journal is this Friday, March 13.
Some of you will undoubtedly be celebrating this occasion, while a few others may miss this column. If you’re in that last group, you can still catch my blog, “Life Down Here in Oklahoma,” at https://cindysheets.wordpress.com. Please visit often and leave your comments.
I’ve been working on freelance writing, editing and photography for quite awhile, but finally decided to take the leap and devote more time to it. I’ll still be contributing a couple of articles a week to The Journal however, so I welcome any news tips or ideas. Please just send me an email at CopybyQuill@gmail.com or leave a message at (405) 742-8048.
I’d like to thank you all for letting me into your lives, if only in a very small way.
As I reflect on what it’s been like to be your weekly newspaper editor, I’ve been amazed at some of the things I’ve learned.
Early on, I was humbled to learn how much influence the written word has, and how important it is to step back and look at issues we cover.
I’ve learned it’s tough to drive down any of the highways in this area without remembering each and every accident I’ve covered, and exactly where it occurred.
That it’s important to document everything in the life of this town, even if that means sometimes having to write about something ugly.
I’ve learned we’re not isolated from drugs, crime, violence, bigotry, ignorance, or just plain unfairness.
On the other hand, I’ve learned a lot of the people who live right here truly want to make our world better. Some of those people run for public office, some volunteer at school and others give blood. Some people plant flowers, make quilts or take food to neighbors in need. Some donate money, time or supplies until the cows come home. Others exercise their right to vote, and still others just go to work every day to earn money for their families.
I’ve learned firefighters, police officers and emergency management folks will bend over backwards to help people they don’t even know. And most of them put their lives on the line every day for low wages or no pay at all.
I’ve learned school teachers are masters of innovation, making miracles from little resources.
The City of Perkins staff is another group that goes above and beyond in all kinds of emergencies. (And Rodger Anderson doesn’t like to have his picture taken.)
I’ve learned our veterans have amazing tales to tell and I’m really worried that we won’t hear all of them.
I’ve learned Perkins and Oklahoma have a great heritage and we should justifiably be very proud.
I’ll always remember and miss people like Mattie Lee Thompson, Gene Woody, Ditz McIlvain, and Rick Clark.
Some of the other things I’ve learned are little things, such as who makes the best homemade bread in these parts (Mary Silvers), who cuts the best t-bones (Wes Beane out at Ralph’s), that Sandy Marshall’s cookies are to die for, and that if you want to know just about anything about anyone around here (or their family, for that matter) ask David Sasser.
Bobby Fields and Harland Wells will give you the shirt off their back, if you’re in need. Richard and Janice Coate will help out with anything in a pinch. Laura and Ray Gann have one of the most beautiful gardens around. Kathleen Johnson makes a mean jar of jelly.… and the list goes on and on.
Perkins has the most interesting people – scholars and artists, cowboys and fishermen, mushroom farmers and Angus ranchers, oil patch folks, bakers, bankers, pilots.
And I’m proud to be part of it all. Thanks.

Fowl Business

I really enjoyed reading Charles Wall’s recent “I Remember” column in The Journal.
Charles talked about raising chicks, which is really a fun activity.
I’ve purchased little chicks to raise and also hatched them in a small incubator. It’s a little work, but well worth the effort.
It took me awhile to figure out the best way to keep the eggs at a constant temperature. You also have to watch the humidity in the incubator. You also have to be vigilant about the temperature after the birds hatch, and make sure their water is clean and ice-free.
There are few things more pleasant to hear than a bunch of baby chicks chirping contentedly. To get a sample of that, just watch the Atwood’s (a local farm supply store) insert this spring to see when they get their shipments of baby chicks, then drop by the store. It’s fun, and the kids will get a real kick out of it, too.
If you live in the country, you might even be motivated to purchase your own flock. Chickens really don’t need that much room, just a small chicken house with a yard that can be fenced in if you don’t want them to be easy prey for predators or running all over your yard.
Free-range chickens love to chase bugs, and besides, the fresh eggs are great.
My largest hatchery project involved guinea hens rather than chickens.
I have a small flock of guineas. I just love them. They are extremely easy to care for, since they mostly care for themselves. They’re not quite as domesticated as chickens, so they prefer roosting in trees at night to staying in the chicken house like chickens do. That “wildness” also makes them a little tougher for predators to catch.
Guineas also love to eat bugs and very small animals, like lizards and small snakes. I feed them cracked corn in the winter but in the summer, my guineas pretty much turn up their beaks at the corn. They prefer to catch bugs and roam around looking for seeds and such.
I’ve been very surprised at how long they live. The small flock I have now is about 13-14 years old.
Despite their toughness, guineas are really not very good parents. They will lead their chicks through areas that are tough walking, such as tall, dewy grass, or they will sometimes just walk off and leave them.
They are, however, very good at hiding their nests. Several years ago, I discovered a couple of nests in the midst of a patch of cockleburs. I imagine several of the hens used the nests because I collected more than 80 eggs.
We put them in the incubator and ended up hatching about 75 little guineas, or “keets” as I learned they’re called. They were the cutest little things. I thought they looked like quail.
I kept them penned up until they were about half grown, then let them loose on our property. They have been an endless source of amusement and they take their jobs as snake and bug hunters and visitor announcers very seriously.
Of course, over the next few years, the flock dwindled down to about 12, which have been doing fine. (I refer to them as the “Smart Dozen.”)
If you think you’d enjoy raising birds, have space for them to roam, and don’t mind their loud calls, I’d recommend trying guineas.

Tornado season has arrived

Well, it’s a little earlier than usual, but it appears that tornado season has arrived.

Tuesday evening, the first of this year’s severe thunderstorms developed, bringing with it rain, lightning, hail, high winds and tornadoes.

It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon as I went back to work after lunch Tuesday. About an hour later, someone said rain was due to arrive at any time so I looked out the window and was surprised to see heavy gray, threatening clouds had moved in.

We watched the weather reports on television and listened to the scanner to keep track of what was happening outside. Storm spotters were watching the skies in the area and it wasn’t long until Stillwater emergency responders (10 miles north) announced they were going to sound their tornado sirens.

Suddenly, the Perkins sirens sounded as well so, being Oklahomans, we immediately went outside to look at the clouds. It seemed the clouds were moving in several different directions.

As we looked at the sky, I heard a strange clattering sound and looked over my shoulder and saw a curtain of what I thought was hail progressing rapidly over some large building across Main Street, heading straight at us. I immediately started running for the office door, which was only about 15 feet away, but I didn’t make it to the door before the leading edge of a very hard rain reached me. I got wet but was very glad it wasn’t hail, as I had thought. It was sure making a racket.

Right after that, the power went out and we knew we’d get no more work done for awhile. I went to get my daughter and went on home to start supper. While we were having supper, another squall went through and this one did bring some hail.

A little while later, the power came back on at the office, so I headed back in to finish up the paper. As I approached the edge of town, I realized all was dark. Everything along Highway 33 was dark. No lights in any of the residential areas. No lights at the high school. No lights at the golf course. No lights at any of the businesses along the highway.

Heading south on Main Street, I noticed a few lights. South Main and a small area nearby had power.

I started hearing reports of damage between Perkins and Stillwater, and today learned of barns that had been destroyed and strewn across a pasture, another barn roof ripped off and some large power poles blown down. People who lived near the power poles reported seeing an enormous flash when the first went over, taking the others down with it.

The power remained off throughout Wednesday as OG&E crews worked to replace the poles and restore service to town. The crews said they believed they’d have it back on tonight, but so far, it hasn’t been restored.

Still, compared with the destruction suffered by other parts of the state, our area has really dodged the bullet.

Today, the governor declared an emergency in 17 Oklahoma counties. There were 8 deaths and more than 200 buildings were damaged or destroyed during yesterday’s tornadoes.

Yes, tornado season has arrived.

Winter fun

It’s a little icy Down Here in Oklahoma today. A big ice storm arrived in the area mid-morning, and conditions have been deteriorating swiftly since then.

I saw an amazing sight today during my lunch hour. We live off a main state highway about three miles outside town. I’d gone home for lunch and was heading back up our dirt road toward the highway. When I got there, I looked east and saw probably 30-odd cars, trucks and semis sitting on the highway in the westbound lane. As I watched, a local state trooper whose cruiser is a large SUV came up the hill, pushing a car. A couple of guys in four-wheel drive pickups followed. They were pushing cars and light half-ton trucks up the long slope. One-by-one the cars were pushed til other, heavier vehicles could make it on their own power.

We ended up closing early in the afternoon, and as I headed back down our dirt road, I was dismayed and a little surprised to see that the gravel was solidly frozen. Usually, once you get off the pavement, things are much easier to navigate.

The ice is still falling and is supposed to continue throughout the night and all day tomorrow, so we will probably be at home. That’s not good, since tomorrow is press day at the paper. That means we’ve got to get the paper out, no matter what. Which means I’ll probably be out driving in the mess.

Oh well, I just hope our power doesn’t go out.

Optimism

I’ve been thinking a lot since President Barack Obama’s inauguration on Tuesday.

I think a lot of other people have, too, if our little town is any indicator.

Here in the only state that didn’t have even one county go to Obama in the election, it’s been kind of surreal.

There are lots of Obama supporters here, but you just didn’t see many visual signs during the campaign – very few yard signs, bumper stickers, etc. As a whole, I think Obama supporters here were just afraid they’d get their car egged or otherwise be subjected to ignorance.

But that doesn’t mean that we weren’t here.

Small groups tentatively sought each other out after the election, to celebrate and express their elation. But it wasn’t until the inauguration (at least locally) that these groups and individuals gathered to celebrate and talk. Approximately 45 registered to come to the gathering in Stillwater, but about twice that many showed up! It was a great time.

Plans are being made, from local groups right on up to the Oval Office. I think we’re looking at the beginning of one of the USA’s great chapters.

Electronics dependency

Finally! Back online.

About a week ago, our house was struck by lightning. It was during a weird thunder-sleet storm.

In a split second, we lost nearly every electronic device in our house, plus some in the shop and the barn.

It hit with a blinding flash accompanied by a deafening crash that brought Maddie screaming out of the basement. After a quick look around, we discovered the tv, stereo, tivo, and dvd player were toast. We also found one of our dogs, Murtagh, who has an unreasonable fear of loud noises, under Maddie’s bed.

It was not a comfortable night, I can tell you. The scent of burned plastic and ozone hung in the air, reminding us that there could be some little spark, somewhere in the house, that wasn’t quite history. I kept waking up, expecting to smell smoke, but luckily, that didn’t happen.

Since then, we have also found that the phone line was fried, along with the satellite radio and stereo out in the shop, and the fence charger down in the barn.

The internet guys were out today and they discovered our wireless router was pretty much melted. They did get us connected back to the net, however, which is a big relief.

I suspect that somehow Keith engineered the whole thing. He’s been lobbying for months now to get a new, big flatscreen tv. I felt that our old tv was quite good, and big enough, but Keith has really been wanting a new one.

Finally, awhile back, I offered a compromise – I’d give my full agreement for getting a new flat screen if he replaced his four-foot-tall 1970’s-era speakers (all of them) with some of those tiny, very efficient new speakers they have on the market now. Some of them can even be flush-mounted into a wall, or placed high in corners of the room.

He didn’t want any part of that, however, so we were at a stalemate. Well, we were until that lightning strike. You probably have already figured out that the first thing that was replaced was our tv – and with a nice new flat screen.

I’m still working on the speakers.

The Cover of Life

If you ever get the chance to see The Cover of Life, make sure you take it. It’s an excellent script by R.T. Robinson, and I believe it’s somewhat autobiographical about his family.

The story is set in Louisiana during World War II. It’s about three young brides whose husbands are serving as soldiers. The girls all move in with their mother-in-law for the duration of the war.

Well, the final performance of the play was this afternoon. It really went well, and though I’m ready for some free time, I’m already missing being at the theatre and working with the great cast and crew.

It’s kind of strange during the last performance. As we change costumes during the play, we take them back to the costume room. Same with props. As the play progresses, the dressing room gets to looking pretty bare; prop tables, too. In fact, as I was waiting to go on in the second act, I was thinking the prop table looked kind of like a Christmas tree with no presents under it. Sort of sad.

Keith (my husband) was just cast in Town & Gown’s next play, Everybody Loves Opal. I believe it opens at the end of January.

Changing the subject entirely, below is a portion of the Nov. 20 column I wrote for our weekly newspaper, The Perkins Journal:

Manette Mansell wrote a funny column about the time she was cornered in her chicken house by a mean rooster for the Nov. 6 issue of the Countywide & Sun (the Tecumseh and Shawnee paper).
Anyone who’s raised any kind of livestock probably has at least one of these types of stories. Hers reminded me of the time I got treed by a hog.
We were raising this hog, and it was getting close to time to take it in to be made into pork chops.
This hog was pretty big and it had gotten pretty wise about figuring out how to escape its pen.
I went out one cool morning to feed the livestock and discovered the hog had shoved a panel of its pen down and was wandering around nearby.
Hogs are pretty smart, so as soon as it saw me, it knew it was breakfast time, and it came running.
I can sometimes be pretty smart, too, so I wasn’t about to feed it unless it was in its pen.
That’s when the battle started.
I put feed in the pen, then tried to trap the hog with the panel, but every time I did that, it would shove the panel aside and dash out.
This continued on for awhile – long enough to get us both pretty frustrated.
You know, hogs can be pretty mean.
Every time I approached it, it would try to bite me. This stalemate went on for about 15 minutes. Me, trying to get that hog rounded up and that hog charging me. I finally had to take refuge on top of a panel and just sat there, wondering how I was going to get out of that mess.
I was resting, perched up there when my friends Nancy and Louie Zirkel drove up.
Let me just back up a bit for those of you who don’t live in the country.
When you don’t have to worry about the neighbors taking note of what outfit you have on, you don’t think a whole lot about what you wear out to the barn. This day I happened to have on some red sweat pants and I had just pulled on a plaid jacket and my roper boots. I was stylin.
I wasn’t real amused when Louie sat in the car, rolling with laughter at the sight of me perched on top of a hog panel in my finery.
Nancy did giggle a little bit, but she got out of the car and helped me round the hog back up. Girlfriends always come through for ya.
(After Louie got his jollies, he got out and helped, too.)

Caching in the Wichita Mountains

We spent a wonderful day geocaching in the Wichita Mountains in southwestern Oklahoma.

I really like living in the eastern part of the state, where it’s greener, but it sure is nice to go out west every now and then. The drier air, plus less bugs and poison ivy make hiking out in the woods or brush much nicer.

The leaves are changing, so the oak woods are various colors of yellow, red, gold, brown and green.

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge was perfect today. Gorgeous weather. We hiked through a forest area of cedars. We found elk tracks and also discovered a place where it looked as though wild hogs had rooted up the area.

One of the caches was at a thing called an anastra, which is some kind of switch that was used in the late 1800’s here during a time when they mined ore. This thing was a stone circle about 15 feet in diameter. There was another stone circle inside that, then a huge wooden post in the center. The post was broken off a couple of feet up. I have no idea how it was used. I searched a bit online but only turned up info about computer switches, so it’s a big mystery.

One of our favorite geocaches is also in this area. It’s an old gold mine. Actually, I think it is a fake gold mine that was used to try to hoax investors. Still an interesting site and a good hike.

We spent most of the day in the area. One of the best spots was in the mountains above the Lake Lawtonka Dam. We climbed up on the rocks, which were reputed to be a place where eagles sometimes stop as they hunt for fish in the lake below. You can see for miles in every direction – Mt. Scott in the west, the lake areas surrounding, and the little town, Medicine Park, to the south.

We also hiked in a small canyon south of Mt. Scott. Very beautiful spot, but rocky. We discovered two small pools on down in the canyon. Bet it’s a popular place for wildlife, especially in the summer.

Medicine Park is a neat place to stop and visit, even if you’re not caching. The town was a resort around 90 years ago. It’s made up of all these neat little cabins made of cobblestone. They are all clustered around the river that flows through the valley. There’s some good restaurants in town. A good place to stop for a burger or chicken fry when you’re in the area.

Gettin’ this thing rolling

Yeah, another blog.

I decided to start writing a blog to accompany my freelance writing and editing career.

I’ll probably include lots of stuff about writing (I’m editor of a weekly newspaper in Oklahoma).

Stay tuned, and please leave comments!

It happened

It finally happened. We had a really bad rehearsal. Tonight was the rehearsal where the director gets disgusted and ticked off and kicks the cast out of the theatre.

It happens.

I had a feeling it would after he bragged on us and gave us a couple of rehearsals off. It was either that or the green beans that threw a kink in things.

Now, I’m kind of freaked out and paranoid about it. Which is the point, I guess.

I hope tomorrow’s rehearsal will go much more smoothly.

I think I’ll bring cornbread tomorrow.

I’m going to bed.

Cowboy Trail Flora and Fauna

I took a lot of photos during our recent trip along the Cowboy Trail in Nebraska, and finally got a couple of subsequent trips completed, so I wanted to share these.

The photos will be shown in the order I captured them, beginning at the western end of the trail in the Valentine area and continuing to the eastern trailhead at Norfolk.

The western end of the trail started in the Sand Hills, which I learned was formed from an ancient desert. The dunes are now mostly covered in vegetation, but still very much visible.

As the trail proceeded east, we noted it ambled through rangeland, then into farmland, and finally into a more populated area.

I could identify some of the species of plants and animals we saw, but there were quite I few I didn’t know.

This photo of a bench beside the trail is typical of of the terrain you’ll see at the west end, near the Niobrara River bridge.

A couple pretty yellow flowers.

A yucca about to bloom. We call these yucca candles.

This pretty flower looks a bit like a sweet pea. Maybe a relative?

Saw this little box turtle sunning itself on the trail.

We have lots of these in Oklahoma. Don’t know the name. They look like giant dandelions.

We saw lots of these little garter snakes. This one was on its last legs (so to speak), but it was the only one I was quick enough to photograph.

These kind of look like foxgloves.

A really pretty pink and yellow flower. The petals look a bit papery.

We watched this tiny dung beetle roll its prize across the trail and up a small gravel embankment.

This huge snapping turtle was not impressed with us.

The Long Pine Creek valley was a lovely verdant surprise.

This pasture is typical of rangeland you’ll see all along the trail.

Of course, there are a few tree tunnels, too.

This is soapwort, also called Bouncing Bet. My mom had it growing in her garden when I was a kid. The bee seemed to love it, too.

It looked like some predator made short work of a yellow and black bird. I found these at the campsite in Stuart.

These trees were covered in lovely white flowers. My friend, Candy, identified them: “The tree with the white flowers is Black Locust, a great source of nectar.”

There are lots of possum grapes along the entire route. We kept riding into invisible clouds of a delightful  lovely and sweet scent, and finally determined it was coming from these mounds of possum grapes.

A pretty little five-petaled white flower.

I think this is mullein.

We saw several blackberry patches. Wish they’d have been ripe!

Milkweed.

Another foxglove?

Kind of an unusual purple three-petaled flower.

Pink prairie roses.

That white stuff lining the sides of the road? Cotton from cottonwood trees. It sticks to sunscreen, lip balm, and chain lube very, very well.

And finally – sand plums! They weren’t quite ripe yet either.

We saw lots and lots of wildlife, but I was way too slow to get a photo of most of it. Besides the turtles and garter snakes, we saw whitetail deer, coyotes, turkey, countless ducks and geese, hawks, and several different kinds of lizards, including horned lizards (we call them ‘horny toads’).

Oklahoma FreeWheel – Day 7

A short day today – only 35 miles from Miami to Joplin.

We kind of took our time getting there, following the gravel route for awhile, then switching to road.

We did make a few stops along the way to take some photos of Route 66, including at the Tar Creek Superfund site near Picher. Before this week, I’d never been to this area and, even though I’d heard about it, just didn’t realize the scope of the clean-up.

A shameful part of Oklahoma history. That’s all I’ll say about it. I did find a very good article about it, if you care to learn more:  https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna89611

We also stopped briefly to harass Wendy and Scott at a water stop. They were working hard.

When we rolled in to the finish at Joplin, quite a few riders had already made it in. From the Texas/Oklahoma state line at Texola, Oklahoma to Joplin, Missouri, they covered 482 miles!

Trevor was congratulating each rider, who were (mostly) all smiles.

The shower trailer was up and running, and lots of folks were on hand to cheer the riders in. It was a festive atmosphere.

Several people asked me if I enjoyed volunteering with FreeWheel this year.

It was hot and dry in western Oklahoma, and it was hot and humid in eastern Oklahoma. I suspect the wind was trying to kill us a couple of times. Everyone was constantly covered in sweat. I didn’t know my feet could even get that dirty. I hammered my hand and a finger. I got bitten by bugs. I got sunburned, or maybe windburned (or both). I dropped the Jetboil on my toe. The Ride with GPS cyber woman jacked with our routes a couple times, causing us to have to correct them. And did I mention the dust?

I saw areas of Oklahoma I’d never seen before. People were generally very friendly and welcoming. The pie sampling we took was superb. I saw lots of pretty wildflowers, and even prettier smiles from old friends, and new ones. I learned how truly divine a shower can feel. I got to peek into the workings of an organization that has been bringing riders together for 40 years. I spoke with people who were interested in our tents, the bikes, and generally why we’d be crazy enough to be out in the summer heat with a mini-city, traveling across the state. I saw beautiful vistas, Main Streets, mom & pop restaurants, Route 66 history and kitsch, a bang-up kick-off party in Elk City, a huge welcome from the tiny town of Luther, thousands of fireflies at our camp in Miami, and the joy of laughing, talking and having a beer with friends.

Yeah, I did enjoy the week. I wonder where we’re going next year?

Oklahoma FreeWheel – Day 6

Gravel grinders Phil and Charlie somewhere west of Miami, Oklahoma.

Keith and I marked the gravel route from Catoosa to the ride end point at Joplin, Missouri. Since we completed that yesterday, we will be on hand to provide SAG support today, if needed.

The riders are tackling their longest day, at 93 gravel miles from Catoosa to Miami.

Hilarious dog hill.

We packed up the campsite at Catoosa High School, and headed toward Vinita, where we again stopped at Clanton’s for pie. (Who wouldn’t?)

Clanton’s Cafe in Vinita was a popular place.

After that treat, we found some shade at a park in Vinita to hang out in case we were needed in this part of the course. I was a bit concerned about all of the riders today because it was the longest segment on this year’s ride, and temperatures were in the 90s. They were actually helped along by a fantastic tailwind today, so most of them made very good time.

Soaking up shade at a park in Vinita. That splash pad looked mighty inviting.

We finally headed toward tonight’s campsite in Miami.

The people there made a lot of small signs welcoming the gravel riders to town. Very nice welcome!

I know it wasn’t for me, but I’m taking it anyway.

We arrived in time to see Trevor being interviewed by a local news station.

After scoping out possible campsites, we headed into town for a bite and a beer, then came back to set up camp.

To be fair, we did order it with salt and lime. Hilarity ensued.

Miami’s park next to the Neosho River is spacious and well-kept.

The entertainment for the evening was the annual last-night talent show. We enjoyed several performances. Our girl, Dee Dee, won first place with her rendition of Blue Bayou!

Oklahoma FreeWheel – Day 5

Today, FreeWheel gravel riders are doing 57 miles from Bristow to Catoosa, but we’re marking Day 6 – a long one. It’s 93 miles from Catoosa to Miami, plus we will also mark the last day – 35 miles from Miami to Joplin. So that will make a total of 128 miles.

Since we had spent the night at home, that meant we needed to meet up with Scott somewhere to pick up the stakes he had pulled up yesterday.

We went to Phat Tire bike shop in the Blue Dome District in Tulsa to wait. Got to see a lot of riders come through while we were there.

We also had a delicious early lunch at Dilly Diner. (Try the Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger -yum!)

Bikes waiting outside the Dilly Diner.

We finally hit the road and traveled to Catoosa, where we started marking the gravel route.

Near Foyil, we stopped briefly at Ed Galloway’s Totem Park. Fun and kitschy stop on the route.

Pie was calling to Keith, so we stopped in Vinita at Clanton’s Cafe. Just right.

While we were there, we told the owner she’d probably be getting lots of business from riders the next day. She recalled filling lots of water bottles when FreeWheel came through town on a prior year.

We proceeded marking the rest of the route, mainly through countryside, and crossed into Kansas North of Picher. It’s sad to see what a mess the superfund site is.

We ran across an interesting bit of Route 66 memorabilia at the Rainbow Curve Bridge, which is apparently the only one of its kind left along Route 66.

From there, it was a short hop into Galena, Kansas, and then on into the end of the route at Joplin, Missouri.

We knew it would be close, but actually had a few stakes left when we arrived.

After grabbing a quick supper, we headed back to the camp at Catoosa. We arrived late and found almost everyone had turned in, but discovered a group of friends still up on the edge of camp, so we had a few beers and laughs then set up our tent.

Of course, I had to find some interesting plants along the way.

I think these may be (in order): Queen Anne’s Lace, an ant farm flower, daisy fleabane, trumpet vine (see the bee inside?), mullein, and some tall corn.

Oklahoma FreeWheel – Day 4

Keith and I had a day off marking the Day 5 gravel course today because the gravel riders will be traveling on pavement with the main group from Bristow to Catoosa. Apparently, the city of Tulsa has paved everything within a reasonable distance, so there was just no gravel to mark.

Day 4 riders started out from Luther this morning and traveled to Bristow, where they camped. Since Luther isn’t that far from our home in Perkins, Keith and I came on home to do laundry and hang out. Probably a better (and cheaper) idea than running around Tulsa all day.

It occurred to me that, prior to starting out on Day 0, I didn’t explain exactly what Oklahoma FreeWheel is all about. I suppose some readers are not familiar with this program, so a few words of explanation are in order.

FreeWheel is a week-long bicycle tour. The route changes each year, so it’s fun to see what organizers will come up with for a route and theme. This year, FreeWheel is following Route 66. The official start was in the western Oklahoma town of Elk City, and the ride will conclude in Joplin, Mo. For riders who want to make it a true cross-state tour, there’s also a Day 0, which extended from the Texas line to Elk City.

Each night is spent in a series of host towns, which offer a campsite and a variety of extras such as foods and entertainment. It’s really up to the town to decide how big of a production they’d like to make of it. For example, Elk City hosted a fun evening with food trucks and live music. The town also provided water and neat swag items.

This year, the overnight stops are Elk City, Weatherford, El Reno, Luther, Bristow, Catoosa, Miami, and Joplin.

During each daily ride, cyclists enjoy the countryside and towns, stopping where they’d like and traveling as fast or as slow as they want. There’s no ‘official’ start time each day. Some riders are up before dawn and head out at a fast pace to avoid the heat of the day; other riders take their time, leaving later, and making more stops throughout the day.

FreeWheel volunteers provide support to riders in the form of water/rest stops, and SAG (support and gear) service in case riders need mechanical or even medical assistance.

The FreeWheel organization offers a lot of rider support, including gear for the volunteer effort. It also provides water and specific services such as charging stations and a hot shower semi-trailer.

There’s a lot of camaraderie between those who participate, many of whom have joined FreeWheel for decades. Since this is the ride’s 40th year, there’s lots of opportunity for that. Riders of all ages and abilities participate in FreeWheel. In fact, this week I met a 92-year-old man who has been riding for years! (I can’t recall exactly how many years. Hopefully, someone will comment on this post and provide that info.)

Well, that’s it in a nutshell. FreeWheel has been a great experience. I’ll provide a link to the organization website below, if you’d like to learn more.

http://www.okfreewheel.com/

Oklahoma FreeWheel – Day 3

We spent a pleasant night in El Reno. There was a chance of rain overnight, but it held off til this morning.

Storm clouds approaching from the north.

About the time we started marking the Day 4 gravel route, it started raining. We ducked into the 116 Farmstead Market & Table in Luther for a cup of coffee and a lemon bar. Keith had apple cake. Both were very good.

We got several miles marked before the thunderstorm started in earnest. A flash flood warning was issued, so we found a high spot to wait out the storm.

Bear Creek near Fallis.

At least we don’t have to put up with dust and wind today!

I’m always on the lookout for interesting plants, and found a couple different kinds of milkweed.

Also found copious amounts of poison oak and ivy.

We came upon a fire at some oil storage tanks. Probably caused by lightning. I think it was around mile 31.

We stopped off at the Rock Cafe in Stroud for lunch. Such a neat little place! They are expecting us tomorrow and said they’ll have a food truck open.

There’s a variety of gravel surfaces tomorrow; all pretty soggy!

FreeWheel camp at Luther is a hopping place. The town really rolled out the red carpet and made us feel welcome.

Oklahoma FreeWheel – Day 2

There’s a wide variety of road surfaces today, especially this kind.

Today started hazy. The weather report said there’s a lot of humidity in the air. I suspect that won’t stick around for long once the wind kicks up.

Hazy day.

Though it’s”officially” Day 2, Keith and I are marking the Day 3 gravel route from El Reno to Luther.

El Reno campsite.

The El Reno campsite is nice and shady this morning. The site is in a beautiful area next to the country club and El Reno lake.

The Day 3 gravel route stays in rural areas for the most part, and it’s especially nice east of I-35 and north of Luther. Lots of different surfaces today.

A rough spot north of Luther.

We were surprised to note a castle along the route today!

Well now, that’s not something you see every day in Oklahoma.

There are lots of pretty wildflowers, too. I saw Mexican hats, and several others that I don’t know. I’m pretty sure that last one is nightshade.

We rolled into Luther and found they’ve already put up lots of little signs.

They were also busy putting up a large tent at the campsite.

We stopped at a diner for lunch and heard local residents talking about FreeWheel coming to town. They seem to be looking forward to our visit.

El Reno tent city.

At tonight’s riders meeting, the Luther mayor, the parks and rec director, and the owner of a local BBQ restaurant got everyone stirred up and ready for our visit there.

Tired volunteer feet. We were comparing tan/dirt lines.

Oklahoma FreeWheel – Day 1

The gravel route stays on pavement for several miles but soon turns a bit rowdy.

Another very breezy day in western Oklahoma! Today, I suspect the wind was trying to kill us. It did almost take out our tent. Hopefully, we got it repaired and will be able to keep using it.

State troopers ready to provide an escort.

Keith and I loaded up and hit the road around 7:30 a.m. By that time, most of the riders had already packed up and gone.

Some riders crossing I-40.

We drove to tonight’s stop, Weatherford, where we’d start marking tomorrow’s gravel route.

Route 66 and veterans monument at Weatherford.

The folks in Weatherford were already setting up the campsite. Mayor Mike Brown came over and welcomed us to town.

Weatherford Mayor Mike Brown.

During the morning , we saw lots of large fields interspersed with rocky arroyos and small canyons.

Where’d the road go? Oh yeah, there it is waaaay over there.

Lunch stop was in the town of Hinton.

We saw lots more wheat ready to cut, and plenty of wildflowers.

Don’t know what these are, but they’re gorgeous.

Sections of the Mother Road are still here!

Route 66 – the Mother Road.

The campsite in Weatherford features a ginormous windmill blade.

Tents set up next to a windmill blade.

Lots of friends in camp, too!

Stillwater friendly faces (from left) Bill, John, Jack, Scott, Keith, and Carl.

Oklahoma FreeWheel – Day 0

Keith and I were up and rolling out before 8 a.m. this morning. We left FreeWheel camp in Elk City and started marking the turns for the 59 miles of the gravel route.

Gravel road in western Oklahoma.

That consisted of placing flagged stakes before and after each turn, or spray-painting markers on pavement, if the route intersected or combined with pavement. Lots of stops.

Stake marking the FreeWheel gravel route.

My pardner.

Along the route we got to see some beautiful rolling hills and large fields. Wheat harvest is in full swing in this part of the state.

Combines harvesting wheat.

Enormous windmills are almost dwarfed by the wheat fields.

I saw this old bridge and went to take a closer look.

Sure enough, it it a Work Projects Administration bridge. I think the date is 1943.

We ended up in Weatherford, which is tomorrow’s overnight stop. Had lunch there, then headed back to Elk City, and found the camp had grown a lot during the day. The tent city continued to grow throughout the day, and now we are pretty much surrounded.

Tent city just getting started … the photos below show it this evening.

Elk City put on a good show this evening, with a live band and several food trucks.

FreeWheel Executive Director Trevor Steward welcoming everyone at tonight’s riders meeting.

The wind throughout the day was pretty fierce, but seems to be diminishing now. It’s just after 9 p.m. and things in camp are getting pretty quiet. Everyone’s turning in early so they can get an early start tomorrow.

Oklahoma FreeWheel

Putting up the welcome mat.

What we’re doing for fun this week – marking the gravel route for Oklahoma FreeWheel!

Tomorrow morning hundreds of bicyclists will begin their week-long ride across the state following Route 66.

There are two routes – one on pavement and the other on gravel roads. Keith and I will be marking the gravel routes.

The yellow markings are for road riders and the orange is for gravel riders.

I’ve never ridden the entire FreeWheel route (except one day of gravel a couple years ago – I was still working then), so I’m looking forward to this week.

Tonight, we’ll be camping at Elk City. Tomorrow morning, riders will start off at the Texas state line and head back this direction.

Should be a fun week! We’ve already met some interesting people. Kat and Luke from England are riding Route 66 on Harleys. (We won’t hold that against them.)

We met Kat and Luke from England as we were marking the Day 0 course. Safe travels, you two!