It's HOT here in Oklahoma!!

Wow, this has been the hottest July I can remember.  It's like a blast furnace anytime you walk outside, with no end in sight.  Thank goodness for air conditioning - It's really too hot to do anything on the weekends except sit on the couch.

For those few who still claim that global climate change is a hoax, even after the extreme weather/earth events of the past few years, I can only say that I respectfully disagree.

I hear that this heat is encompassing the entire United States, even the "up north" states, where homes with air conditioning are not as prevalant.  We have the dog days of August to look forward to, and please, everyone, take heat precautions.

Wear light, loose clothing whenever possible, less is better.  Use sunscreen and never get far away from an air conditioned, cool area.  This is not the time for a 2 hour hike, away from civilization!  Sweating is good in extreme heat, not sweating is a sign that something is wrong and that you need to get cool very quickly.

Save the stenuous, outdoor activities for autumn and, in Oklahoma, even winter. 

A great way to cool off quickly when you come from outside is to wash your face, arms and legs with a washcloth soaked in cold water.

Stay safe, stay cool and remember that the heat will eventually end.

Bring Back The Pickle-O's!

I was reading Territory Mom's great blog the other day ( http://oklahome.blogspot.com/)and ran across a post about the great Sonic food item Pickle-O's.  I decided to join her in a Bring Back The Pickle-O's plea....

Pickle-O's were popular in the 1970's at the Sonic drive-ins.  I first tasted one at the Purcell, Oklahoma Sonic and was immediately hooked.  I have eaten a lot of fried pickles since then, but none even half as tasty as Sonic's version.  Pickle-O's were around for, oh, about 15 years or so, I guess.  At the peak they were available at all Sonics, but then you could only find them at select Sonics, and now I don't think you could find a Sonic that still sells them.

Pickle-O's were about the size of a half-dollar - they were made from dill pickle slices, dipped in batter and fried to perfection.  They were great with a Sonic burger, and we didn't know at the time what we had....until it was gone.

I discovered Pickle-O's again around 1990 or so at the Coalgate Sonic, and my mother, aunt and I were in seventh heaven until they pulled the Pickle-O's off the menu.

Sonic, please bring back the Pickle-O's.  They are 10 times better than your onion rings, and your onion rings are exquisite.  People will love them again!  It's a hot summer - please give us a little relief and reward us with Pickle-O's....

The Legend of the Cherokee Rose

An area of present-state Oklahoma was the final destination for the Cherokee tribe after they were forced from their home in the Eastern United States because the settlers and speculators wanted the gold and other natural resources in their mountains.

I love visiting Tahlequah because of its rich history and the citizens' love of this history.  There are double street signs in Tahlequah - one in English and one in Cherokee.  The Cherokee History Center there is a must-see for visitors to Eastern Oklahoma. Walk in the woods near Tahlequah and you can literally feel the spirits around you (or it may be the Little People...But that's a story for later)....

Oklahomans as a lot aren't terribly fond of President Andrew Jackson and his minions, and although we love Tahlequah and our Cherokee, we are a bit sensitive over the subject of the Trail of Tears.  What was done to the Cherokee people around 1830 was nothing short of a death march sanctioned by our own government. The fact that the Cherokee flourished and prospered in Tahlequah and the surrounding area is a credit to the Cherokee people, and should never be used to diminish the travesty that was done to them at the hands of the greedy.

There are two great legends associated with the grief experienced on the Trail of Tears.  One is the legend of the Rose Rock.  The other, featured here today, is the legend of the Cherokee Rose.  Credit for compiling and editing this story goes to Kathy Weiser of http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ .   Visit this great website for more beautiful legends and stories of our past.

The Legend of the Cherokee Rose (nu na hi du na tlo hi lu i)

More than 175 years ago, gold was discovered in the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia and as thousands of new settlers invaded the area, it spawned tensions with the American Indian tribes. As a result, President Andrew Jackson established the Indian Removal Policy in 1830, which forced the Cherokee Nation to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and migrate to Indian Territory (now present day Oklahoma.)

The forced march, which began in 1838, was called the "Trail of Tears," because over 4,000 of the 15,000 Indians died of hunger, disease, cold, and exhaustion. In the Cherokee language, the event is called Nunna daul Tsuny -- "the trail where they cried."

Along the way, the Cherokee mothers cried and the elders prayed for a sign that would lift their spirits to give them strength. One night along the trail, the old men spent in the evening in powerful prayer, asking the Great One to help them with their suffering and save the children to rebuild the Cherokee Nation.

The Great One responded to the elders by saying: "Yes, I have seen the sorrows of the women and I can help them to keep their strength to help the children. Tell the women in the morning to look back where their tears have fallen to the ground. I will cause to grow quickly a plant, which will grow up and up and fall back down to touch the ground where another stem will begin to grow.

The next day when the Cherokee continued their journey, the elders advised the mothers to look behind them. In each place where the mothers' tears fell, a beautiful white rose began to grow. As the women watched the beautiful blossoms form, they forgot to cry and felt strong. By the afternoon they saw many white blossoms as far as they could see.

Its rose's gold center is said to represent the gold taken from the Cherokee lands, and its seven leaves on each stem signifies the seven Cherokee clans. Today, the wild Cherokee Rose can be found all along the Trail of Tears from North Carolina to Oklahoma.

Thank you, Thunder!

Well, the basketball season is finally over for our great, youthful, exhuberant team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Whether or not you are a professional basketball fan, you have to love this bunch of kids.  They are quite different from most NBA teams - they don't have long rap sheets (or any rap sheets, for that matter), you won't see many tattoos or fistfights, and no one, at least that we know of, has beaten up a child, a wife or a pet.  The Thunder took some heat this year, particularly during the Denver series, for being "boy scouts" and not "tough enough", but they dispatched Denver quickly enough, then Memphis, and finally met their match in an outstanding Dallas Maverick team.  Our guys were simply too young and inexperienced to prevail against a much older and wily Dallas team.

The Thunder were one of the four NBA teams (out of 30) still standing.  Now there are only two and the Thunder has come home to their cheering crowd.  Watch out next year, NBA...

I was going to write a tribute to our team of boy scouts, but one of our celebrities here in OKC, Jenifer Reynolds beat me to the punch.  Her tribute was much better than mine would have been, so I am re-posting it right here.  Jenifer Reynolds was one of our best news anchors ever in OKC and retired from news much too early.  She now hosts a popular Oklahoma program on our PBS channels.

Here is Jenifer's tribute to the Thunder:

Dear Thunder:


I know by now you must be asking yourselves, what's the deal with these people in Oklahoma City? Can they not do math? Have they not figured out the rules? Did they not notice we threw away a fourth quarter lead in two consecutive games to lose the series 4 - 1? Should we tell them, or hope they never figure it out???

The truth is we couldn’t love you any more than we do now even if you had won the title. I wanted you to know that, so you'll stop thinking you let us down.

It's odd that I would be writing this letter, since I don't even like NBA basketball, or at least I didn't before. By this time each year, my husband would be watching with the sound down because the endless squeak of basketball shoes during the interminable months of the pro season would have been driving me mad.

But not this year. Throughout the playoffs, we were stitched to the set through every game we could watch, screeching and howling like breeding cats over every basket you hit, every one you missed, every bad call, every win and every loss.

And while we would have loved for you to win the title, here's what you have to understand - we wanted it for YOU, not for us.

Why is that? Because you’ve helped us show the world who we are.

You guys never give up and we don't either. We didn't quit after the Dust Bowl or the oil busts or the Murrah Bombing or the tornadoes that plowed through the heart of our community a decade ago. We never looked up and said who's going to fix this? Who's going to bring us trailers to live in or send our kids to college? We just rolled up our sleeves and went to work.

What you see downtown - Oklahomans did that. Our leaders dreamed it up and we paid for it. That building you play in? We built that, too. The names of the big energy companies may spin around the light board inside, but it was the sweat of ten thousand roughnecks that helped put their money in the bank. We know how to work hard and we respect that ethic in others.

After April 19, 1995 people kept asking us, "Will you ever be the same?" And I always thought, "Of course not! The real question is, whether we'll be better or worse." WE decided we'd be better, and we are. In fact, sometimes when I look at all we've done since then, it's hard for me to believe - and I saw it all happen! But no matter what we do, we have a hard time convincing the rest of America we're not just a hump on the back of Texas.

You’re helping us change that, and we’d sure love it if eventually you’d beat those guys. But we’re willing to wait.

Just like you, Oklahoma is a little on the young side – the fifth youngest state in the Union. In a way, we're still trying to create our place in America and we face some pretty heavy stereotypes. We're the state (along with the Dakotas) that Rand McNally once left out of its portable atlas to save space. We're the state that gets dismissed by national sports writers and coaches as a backwater or a "small town". That backhanded dis-not-so-cleverly-disguised-as-a-compliment by Nuggets Coach George Karl who called us the “Green Bay of the NBA” is just par on our course. Actually, I really don't mind being compared to the Cheeseheads, because most people in America don’t get them either. WE do. They’re working people just like us who know how to support a team!

We're the people who set what is now called "The Oklahoma Standard" for community response to disaster. We're the people who taught the world how to grieve in a public and positive way, how to turn disaster into opportunity.

We don't always win here, but nobody cares more, tries harder, or stays truer than Oklahomans. There's something strange and special about this place, but you have to stay here for a while to understand it.

Today when somebody drove by with his Thunder flag still flying, while we were listening to Native Son Bryan White sing “Dust Bowl Dreams” about how Oklahomans “push on and persevere” I realized exactly why it is we love you guys: In some odd way that defies explanation you GET us.

You get who we are and you've been able to give us a voice in the world by the way you play, by the way you persevere. All of us Native Okies are here because somebody decided to stick it out through the bad times and keep working for better times. When we watch you play, we see those beliefs rewarded. For us, whether you win or lose really is less important than how you play the game.

And that's why the crowd was still chanting "OKC! OKC!" even as you set a dubious new NBA record for a blown lead. That's why they were waiting for you at oh-dark-30 this morning, chanting, "Thank you, Thunder!" While you may think you owe US something, we know in our hearts that we really owe YOU.

So don’t hang your heads. Just get ready for next year, because as Bryan White sings, “Quitting is something Okies just don’t do.”

Keep rolling, Thunder. We’re behind you all the way.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/jenifer-reynolds/an-open-letter-to-the-thunder/228700937143914

Time For Another Ghost Story....

Doesn't everyone love a good ghost story?  Especially when it involves a place that we know well?  I came across another good one the other day, involving an area around Tishomingo, Oklahoma.  I grew up north of Tish, and have been there many, many times.  Tishomingo was the original Oklahoma Chickasaw capital, and the old, stately building still stands proudly there today.  Tishomingo is the home of Murray State College, an excellent 2 year school.  Part of its beauty comes from its river, the great Blue.  When I was a kid, there was a terrific swinging bridge over the river - cars would creep across and the bridge would swing back and forth.  Crazy stuff.

Many of Oklahoma's ghost stories come from our Native American population, and the Tishomingo story today is no exception.  If anyone knows the area around Tish well, and has seen the burial mounds mentioned in the story, please post a reply - I would love to take a look at them.

Credit goes to legendsofamerica.com for this story, which was written by Charles M. Skinner in 1896.

A Battle in the Air


In the country about Tishomingo, Indian Territory, troubles are foretold by a battle of unseen men in the air. Whenever the sound of conflict is heard it is an indication that many dead will lie in the fields, for it heralds battle, starvation, or pestilence. The powerful nation that lived here once was completely annihilated by an opposing tribe, and in the valley in the western part of the Territory there are mounds where hundreds of men lie buried. Spirits occupy the valley, and to the eyes of the red men they are still seen, at times, continuing the fight.

In May, 1892, the last demonstration was made in the hearing of John Willis, a U.S. Deputy Marshal, who was hunting horse-thieves. He was belated one night and entered the vale of mounds, for he had no scruples against sleeping there. He had not, in fact, ever heard that the region was haunted. The snorting of his horse in the middle of the night awoke him and he sprang to his feet, thinking that savages, outlaws, or, at least, coyotes had disturbed the animal. Although there was a good moon, he could see nothing moving on the plain. Yet the sounds that filled the air were like the noise of an army, only a trifle subdued, as if they were borne on the passing of a wind. The rush of hoofs and of feet, the striking of blows, the fall of bodies could be heard, and for nearly an hour these fell rumors went across the earth. At last the horse became so frantic that Willis saddled him and rode away, and as he reached the edge of the valley the sounds were heard going into the distance. Not until he reached a settlement did he learn of the spell that rested on the place.

Survived Another Round Of Tornadoes!

Hello and happy peaceful Wednesday!

Last Thursday night Oklahoma was hit hard by about 25 tornadoes.  Southern Oklahoma suffered serious damage and at least two deaths in the small town of Tushka.  Tushka is about 20 miles east of my mother's house, and I sweated out several hours of watching the Oklahoma radar and talking occasionally to my mother on the phone.  Being two hours away from her town, I am at the mercy of our television meteorologists to know what's going on and when things are all clear. 

This is normal in the state of Oklahoma, and it seems to be happening more and more frequently in the states east and northeast of us as well.  Global climate changes are resulting in changes for all of us.  Extreme weather is becoming commonplace, but that doesn't make it any easier.

As I write this on Friday, the storms that blasted Oklahoma last night have moved through Arkansas, killing several, Mississippi, Alabama and are now menacing Georgia.  Not sure when this monster is finally going to run out of steam, but I hope it's soon.

Here is my plea - Don't live in constant fear of tornadoes, but give them a healthy respect if they are threatening.  As I told my mom last night, the odds of being hit by a tornado are very slim, but it definately does happen.  I have ridden out two major tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma, one being the largest tornado ever recorded (May 3, 1999) and the other one I watched coming right at me from the top step of my storm shelter (May 9, 2003). Neither one directly hit my home, but both were killers and cut a huge swath out of my city of 50,000 people.  Both scared the dickens out of me, and I will never take a tornado lightly again.  I will confess to being nervous and edgy in April and May, to the point of dreading those two beautiful months now.  So don't be like me - the odds of losing your life, or even your home, in a natural disaster are low - don't let those fears control any part of your life!

Have You Seen Oklahoma’s Spook Light?

Oklahoma is bursting with ghost stories, strange happenings, outlaw tales and Native American legends. Some of them are actually true. One of my favorites is the Spook Light of Northeastern Oklahoma.

I first heard of the Spook Light at a dinner party in Miami, Oklahoma, several years ago. I was there on business, and one of the locals asked me if I had seen the Spook Light. I was immediately intrigued, but also wary that I could be going down a snipe hunt trail. The locals were enthusiastic about this thing, and some of them actually claimed to have seen it.  By the time I dug into my dessert, I was hanging between wanting to see this thing and feeling as if the city girl was being taken by the joking country folk.

A group of them promised to take me there on my next trip to Miami, but I laughed it off and said I wasn’t falling for that. A few days after I got back home, one of them e-mailed me a site that described the Spook Light in detail. Ok, now I was intrigued.

About a month later I was back in Miami, and my dinner partners had arranged a cookout and hayride to the road where the Spook Light made its occasional appearances.

The first reported sighting of the Spook Light was in 1881, and there have been countless sightings since then.

Located east of Quapaw, Oklahoma, the Spook Light road (known as the Devil’s Promenade by locals) is out in the country and during the day resembles every other dirt road in the state. It’s about 4 miles long, but the Spook Light only appears in a certain smaller area of the road.

The Spook Light appears as a moving, bouncing, reddish-orange ball of light. It dances around and has even come into moving automobiles. Some people walking along the road have reported feeling the heat as the light zooms by them. The light is not affected by wind or rain – it appears no matter what the weather happens to be.

There have been various theories over the years on what causes this light, most of them quickly discounted. One theory that seems most plausible is that an electric charge from grinding rocks underneath the ground causes the Spook Light. The area is over a fault line, so this idea is a possibility, but has never been proven.

Other theories are more interesting and involve ghosts. One story is that a Quapaw brave and maiden fell in love, but her father was against the romance. A real Romeo and Juliet story. The couple fled and were chased by Quapaw braves until they took a lover’s leap into the Spring River and died. Their ghosts, for some unexplained reason, converged into the Spook Light. Another one involves an Indian chief who was beheaded and travels the road with his lantern looking for the head. The lantern is the Spook Light - that's why it bobs around.  But why would he need a lantern if he doesn’t have a head? Didn’t his eyes go with his head? Well, I don’t want to get in the way of a good ghost story….

Bottom line is that I did go to the cookout that night, and afterward we loaded onto wagons stacked with hay bales and rode behind tractors to the infamous Devil’s Promenade. It was about 10:00 pm, since the light usually appears between 10 and midnight. Our group of about 30 or so walked the dark, lonely road for an hour or more, wishing and wanting the Spook Light to appear, but kind of not, too.

The Spook Light did……not appear. Oh well, we all had a terrific time at the party and really loved the hayride. I hadn’t been on a hayride in a long time, and had forgotten how much fun they are. And the walk down the dark and scary Devil’s Promenade was hair-raising and a great experience.

Does the Spook Light exist? Of course it does – there have been too many witnesses over too many years for it to be figment of someone’s imagination. Is it a ghost? You be the judge.

Catch A Crawdad the Oklahoma Way!

Lots of people believe that they have to go to a creek or river to catch a crawdad. However, in Oklahoma the crawdads like to make their homes in ditches and other low-lying areas where there is water directly underneath the ground.

The following are instructions on how to recognize a crawdad’s home and how to coax him out of his home once you find it.

A crawdad looks like a lobster, but smaller. He has two large claws that are used like we use our hands – to grab onto things. Some people boil and eat crawdads like lobsters, but it’s not common in my state to do that. Crawdads are usually caught by kids for fun and for scaring the heck out of Grandma, then released to go back to their crawdad busines

Get your bait ready. A crawdad’s favorite dinner is a piece of bacon, just a few inches big. Tie a string tightly around the piece of bacon. It will become the centerpiece of a huge tug of war pretty soon, so make sure it is secure. The string should be about 15 inches or so long.

You have to find a crawdad’s house before you can catch him. Crawdads like to stay under the ground, in the water, so you won’t find one taking a stroll in the park.

A crawdad’s abode is in a low-lying area where water stands when it rains, such as a ditch. You will see a mound of little mud clods, formed and carefully placed kind of like an Egyptian pyramid. This pyramid was made not by an Egyptian, but by the crawdad himself, as he was digging the hole down to the water underneath.

Knock over the crawdad’s mound. He may not like it, but he’ll get over it. You will see a carefully-dug hole directly underneath where the mound was. This is the crawdad’s route to his living room in the water.

Pull out your bait on a string and carefully feed it down into the hole. It should go down until it hits the water. Then wiggle and bob it a little, holding tightly to the top of the string. If the crawdad is at home, he will think it’s Christmas, and Santa is coming down the chimney. He will latch onto the bacon/gift with one of his big claws.

The tug of war begins. You can’t be too aggressive and jerk the string right up, or the crawdad will figure out that he’s being tricked and will let go. Pull it slowly and carefully, letting the crawdad win a little, then dashing his hopes by pulling a little harder. He will hang on because, come on, how many times does bacon just walk in the door?

Pull him up slowly and carefully. Haul him out onto the grass and marvel at what a scary and unattractive creature this is. Let him chow down on the bacon if he wants, but he’ll probably have a nervous stomach from the trip up the crawdad hole and won’t feel like eating.  Don’t let those claws get near you, or anyone that you want to scare, seriously. He will get some nasty revenge on you for wrecking his day if he can.

Handle the little guy carefully, and let him scurry back down to his house after a few minutes. You don’t want to hurt him - he probably has a wife and kids to support down there, after all.

Coming To Oklahoma? Visit The Rt. 66 Round Barn!

Oklahoma has more drivable miles of The Mother Road than any other state, which makes it a prime area for Route 66 fans from around the world. A major landmark on their tour is the Round Barn in Arcadia.

In 1898 a farm family built a unique barn on their land. It was in a circular form, and was a real pain to build, due to the shape.

Here is how to visit and enjoy the old Rt. 66 Round Barn of Arcadia….

On Route 66, just east of Oklahoma City, there is a tiny little town called Arcadia. This will be your stop. Now, it’s not much of a town, and as you pass through, the huge, red round barn will loom up before you. There’s no way you can miss it.

The Rt. 66 Round Barn is on the north side of the road, and is on the west side of Arcadia. There is a pull-off on the south side of Rt. 66 where you can get a good picture. After that, you will want to drive around to the north side of the barn, where there is plenty of free parking.

There are two levels to the barn. You will go into the lower level first. This is where the animals were sheltered and the hay was stored back in the day. Now, though, you will see that the lower level is filled with old, historic pictures of round barns throughout the United States. There are also neat old artifacts and history of Rt. 66. Walk around, find your state’s round barns, and soak up the history.

Be sure and engage the guy behind the old counter. He’s a real character, and full of information about the barn, Oklahoma, and Rt. 66.

There are shirts and numerous souvenirs available with Route 66, the Round Barn and other things on them. Purchasing a souvenir will remind you of your visit years later.

After all this, you will walk upstairs to the upper level of the Rt. 66 Round Barn, where they had parties and barn dances in the old days. This is where the fact that you are in a round barn will really sink in. People walk in and wander aimlessly while they gaze at the beautiful round ceiling. How in the world did they build this?

Each rafter was green lumber and soaked in water to make it bendable. What resulted from these efforts was a true wonder of architecture. The room is dark, and it will be hard to take pictures, but try your best and maybe something will turn out.

All of this is free. Yes, free. You can donate to the Route 66 Round Barn fund while you are there to help with the upkeep if you like, which would be a good thing to do.

Just another way to get your kicks on Rt. 66…..

Oh, and just across the street and a little west of the Rt. 66 Round Barn, there is another must-stop – Pop’s. You will know it by the huge, and I mean huge, lighted pop bottle. Go in and have a burger and a hard-to-find soft drink that you haven’t seen since your childhood. You will never see so many soft drinks in one place again.

Have You Ever Been Curious About Old Order Amish?

The Old Order Amish church is a Christian denomination that split from the more liberal Amish Mennonites in the mid-1800’s. The first thing that usually springs to our minds when we hear Old Order Amish is the severe black buggy seen in so many pictures, but there is so much more to the Old Order Amish than their mode of transportation and their unique dress.

There is a large population of Old Order Amish in my home state of Oklahoma. They settled in the tiny town of Clarita, and live among the non-Amish farmers and ranchers as valued members of the community. It is easy to dismiss the Old Order Amish as a fringe of our society, but before we do this, we should try to understand them. The following are a few tips on how to understand the Old Order Amish….

There are Old Order Amish communities in 27 states and Ontario, Canada. They live in close proximity to each other, on large farms usually in isolated areas.

A family might open a retail business that attracts other Amish (such as a buggy shop), the general public (grocery store, Amish furniture store) or tourists (quilt store or Amish bakery, generally on a well-traveled highway).

Although they will not accept electricity or phone service in their homes, the Old Order Amish will sometimes have these in a retail business if necessary.

Most of the Old Order Amish are descendants of Amish who migrated to America in the 1700’s from Germany or Switzerland. The Amish name is taken from founder Jakob Ammann, born in the mid-1600’s in Switzerland, who believed that the Mennonites were going away from traditional teachings. The first Amish settled in Pennsylvania. In the mid-1860’s the Old Order Amish split from the Amish Mennonites over what they felt was an acceptance of modernization by the Amish Mennonites.

Old Order Amish are Christians who use the Bible. They live by a set of rules called the Ordnung, which sets out their way of life and which must be obeyed by every member. Old Order Amish do not accept government payments of any kind, including Medicare and Social Security. They do not buy insurance, use line electricity or telephones in their homes and refuse to serve in the military. They do not own automobiles, and most do not own tractors. Horses provide the horsepower, literally. However, they will ride in automobiles and use battery-powered appliances and gas-fueled generators in their homes.

Old Order Amish have a strict dress code and most do not allow zippers or belts. Most clothing is made in the home.

Family is extremely important to Old Order Amish, and both the father and mother take big roles in child care and nurturing. They believe in spanking children if necessary. Divorce is non-existent, and elderly parents are generally cared for in the home of one of their children.

Education is usually ended after the eighth grade, and older girls generally serve as teachers. Usually a community-built school in an isolated location will serve all of the children. The Amish speak a German dialect called Pennsylvania German as well as English. Pennsylvania German is always spoken in the home and with other Amish – learning English is just for the benefit of communicating with non-Amish.

Normally the Old Order Amish do not build churches but rather hold services in members’ homes. Sunday services are generally an all-day event, with a big community lunch being served on the lawn.

Old Order Amish do not usually allow pictures to be taken of them, since this is considered a sin of vanity. When I take their pictures, I usually take them from the back of the person.

When you see the Amish suffering in the heat of the summer with no air conditioning or shivering in their buggies during the snowy season, it’s difficult to understand why anyone would choose this life. However, they seem to be very happy and content, always smiling and friendly.

There is much, much more to the Old Order Amish than what this article can cover. If you would like to know more, there is a wealth of information on the Internet.

Have A Great Trip On I-40 Texas to Oklahoma City

If you are planning a trip that will take you on Interstate 40 east through Oklahoma, you will find some terrific places to stop between the Texas border and Oklahoma City. OKC is the approximate half-way point if you are traveling all the way across the state.

I-40 is a major west-east highway, beginning in Barstow, California and ending in Wilmington, North Carolina. It is 331 miles across Oklahoma. I-40 from the Texas border to OKC parallels or crosses old historic Route 66.

If you like to stop at casinos, you may never get out of Oklahoma. You will see numerous signs for casinos, more as you go further east from the west, and you can check them all out. There is a particularly well-known one on this stretch, which is noted in this post.

If you are going from the west to the east, you will first encounter the flat Oklahoma, entering from flat Texas. There are really two Oklahomas – the Dust Bowl area, which encompasses this stretch of I-40, and the green area, which is the half of Oklahoma east of Oklahoma City. If you are traveling across the entire state, you will definitely notice the difference!

Cherokee Trading Post - Near Clinton is the Cherokee Trading Post on the north side of I-40. You HAVE to pull off here and wander around. It’s a great place to pick up a pair of moccasins or a nice piece of authentic native American art. (Note: This is NOT where the Cherokees settled after the Trail of Tears – that’s Talequah, on the northeast side of the state, and I-40 does not go through it.)

Red Rock Canyon - After that, keep an eye peeled for Hinton, and take the exit south. Hinton is just a few miles, and it is home to a really nice place to have a picnic and as much exploration as you have time for. It’s called Red Rock Canyon, and the signs will point you there. You will wind your way down into the canyon, which is walled with gorgeous red rock. This was a favorite hide-away for the numerous outlaws that roamed Oklahoma in the wild west days, and you can easily see why.

Back on the road, you will pass Yukon, where Garth Brooks grew up, and El Reno, home to historic Fort Reno, which is worth pulling off to see if you have time. If you stop in El Reno to see Fort Reno, be sure and pick up some world-famous onion-burgers. El Reno is known for its onion-burgers, and for good reason. There are several onion-burger joints there, most of them old and small, and all of them are really good.

Casino Alert!! Just a few miles north of El Reno on Highway 81 is the Lucky Star Casino.

On I-40 again, you are almost immediately in the Oklahoma City metro area after you pass El Reno.

OKC is a treasure trove of great places, many of them right off of the Interstate. Here are a few: Bricktown – This is an area immediate to I-40 that has numerous excellent eating joints ….Chilenos - Mexican, T. Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill - Barbeque, The Mantle – Upscale steak place, Bricktown Brewery – Brewpub, and many, many more.

Bricktown has Seg-Ways, horse-drawn buggies and rickshaws that you can use to see the sights (for a modest price).

Take a ride on the Bricktown canal boat for a great view of everything.

Bricktown is home to the Oklahoma Redhawks AAA baseball stadium and the Ford Center, home to the Oklahoma City Thunder professional basketball team. Basketball tickets are not always readily available, so you might consider ordering them in advance if you know when you will be in OKC.

The Oklahoma City Memorial (Murrah Building Bombing) is in walking distance of Bricktown, and Bricktown has numerous ambassadors walking around that will be happy to steer you in the right direction or provide you with maps.

I-40 from the Oklahoma/Texas border to OKC can be an adventure, if you have a little knowledge starting out. While I prefer the I-40 corridor from OKC east to Arkansas, there is a lot to recommend on the Texas to OKC stretch. Preparation and planning are keys.

Can Oklahoma Find A Use For The Red Cedar?

Ok, I will admit up front that I have a strong opinion about Oklahoma's Eastern Red Cedar trees.  I am a tree lover by nature.  Growing up on a ranch, I was surrounded by wonderful people whose main goal in life seemed to be to cut down the forests to make room for more fields.  Yes, I protested loudly and lost every single argument, but I did what I could.  I guess I never lost the fervor.

Surprisingly, my cowboy family didn't seem to mind the little Red Cedars that would spring up here and there - they were more focused on the hated Bois d' Arc trees.  The Bois d' Arcs' thorns would tear at the cowboys and their horses as they rode trails, and the fruit of the tree, the big horseapples, would trip a horse if he didn't look where he was going and stepped on one.  Plus, the wood of the Bois d' Arc was strong and hard, making for terrific fence posts that are still standing on my family's place today - some are sixty years old.

My history with Red Cedar has everything to do with Christmas.  Before my mother fell in love with artificial trees, in mid-December, my dad and I would traipse out to find the perfect Red Cedar for our Christmas tree.  We always chose trees that were too big, according to my mother, but they always looked good.  Maybe it wasn't the perfect Montana pine, but it was definitely Oklahoma, and suited our tastes.  The Red Cedar was the Christmas tree for my grandparents and their parents before them.  Readily available and free for the taking,  I thought they were top-notch.  Still do.

Now I'm hearing that our Red Cedars are considered a scourge for several reasons.  Their wood is oily and they go up like fireworks when they are hit by a spark.  They multiply like crazy, accounting for fields full of little Red Cedars.  Many farmers and ranchers consider them to be weeds.  The State is considering declaring some sort of Cedar Emergency to rid our state of the pests.

Well, fair enough.  I understand the fire hazard, as well as the objections of the farmers.  But could we search a little harder for a solution to the problem?  We have a little business making writing pens and other wood objects from trees in various states, and the best-selling Oklahoma pen by far is the Red Cedar. Bois d' Arc and walnut pens are easily outdistanced by the fragrant and beautiful Red Cedar.  Its wood is absolutely gorgeous.  Have you ever seen a Red Cedar bedroom suite?  Once you do, you won't forget it.  But many of us don't seem to appreciate Red Cedar wood for anything except cedar chests.

I think we have a great cash crop in Red Cedar wood.  If we are going to destroy the trees anyway, why not help our economy while we're at it?  Promote the wood and products made from it.  See what the big furniture makers think.  At least give it a try.  Systematic destruction of this beautiful wood seems unnecessarily silly and rash.  Do we still have an Oklahoma Department of Agriculture?  One would think that they would be interested in promoting the best interests of Oklahoma agriculture, but then, maybe not.

Anyway, I guess that's my rant for the year.  What do you think?  All comments are welcome!!

How Do We Preserve Oklahoma's Forgotten History?

I grew up in tiny Clarita - a hamlet of a hundred farms and ranches in what was previously Indian Territory.   After World War II, my war veteran dad purchased a big acreage of largely trees and streams from a man who had bought the land from Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians.  Slowly, my father cleared plots of the land and made them suitable for planting cattle feed such as alfalfa.  He and my mother raised their two children and made their living on this land, and it's still in my family today.

There is history on that land.  The border of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations runs right through it.  As a kid I picked up numerous arrowheads and artifacts just lying on the ground, usually near a stream.  It was kind of interesting at the time, but arrowheads were common in the area and I had no sense of the importance of my finds.

On our land a mile from our house, up on a hill among the trees sat a tiny, very old log cabin.   Who lived there, and when?  My parents were preoccupied with other things, such as paying bills and raising children, and had no interest.  Kids have attention spans of gnats, and absolutely no curiosity about history, so my brother and I took little note of the old cabin.  No one else knew about it.   During our Thanksgiving dinner this year, the subject of the old cabin came up, and we decided to pay it a visit.  It's funny how much more important history becomes to adults, after it's too late....Anyway, a bunch of us drove as close as we could to the still-heavily-wooded hill, but my brother, sister-in-law and I were the only ones willing to hike up there and take a look among the trees.  We found the cabin, now a heap of extremely aged, thin and fragile logs and boards.  It had fallen down long ago.  A beast of some sort, probably a fox, had dug a nice hole underneath the heap.  We walked around, all three of us lost in our thoughts.  We wished we had asked some questions back when there may have been someone who could have answered them.  Who built this cabin?  No doubt a Choctaw, but who was he?  Did he raise a family here?  Why did he leave - did he lose his life here?  Are there graves here, long lost?

Further west on my family's land sat a hill (which we thought was a mountain) that we all called Horse Thief Mountain.  Probably the most important aspect of Horse Thief Mountain was its makeup of fossils and petrified strange things.  I picked up bucketfuls of these as a kid, but again, didn't appreciate the astounding importance of these things.  What I did appreciate was the very thing that gave Horse Thief Mountain its name - the dead horse thief at the top of the hill...... 

According to my grandparents, great-uncles and various people around town, our little area of the world was a bit rough and tumble in the late 1800's and the turn of the twentieth century.  The white settlers were moving in and buying up the Choctaws' land allotments, living among the Indians.  There was no local law in this part of Indian Territory,with the Federal Marshalls being preoccupied with the bigger problems in the Territory, which were numerous. Indians and settlers took matters into their own hands, often resulting in horrendous bloodshed and dubious justice. 

As the old folks in Clarita told the story, sometime during the first decade of the twentieth century a man was caught stealing horses from one of the settlers.  A group of local men, lacking any other option, convicted the hapless thief on the spot (which happened to be at the foot of what we would later know as Horse Thief Mountain) and someone produced a rope.  An big Bois d'Arc tree served as the gallows, and the deed was quickly done.  The dead thief was dragged by horse to the top of the hill and buried by the men who had killed him.

Many years later I would stare into the eerie sunken grave as my dad told me the story.   There was no marker, just a sunken hole at the top of the hill, among the fossils.  I went back there at least once a year during my childhood, usually on horseback, sometimes hiking.  It was peaceful and scary at the same time - I stood on the hill looking west at miles and miles of unexplored forest and was keenly aware of the isolation and beauty of this place. 

After I was grown and gone, my father sold a large piece of his property that included Horse Thief Mountain.  Someone had discovered the fossils and now there is earth-moving equipment and people with rock hammers systematically dismantling the hill.  It has been renamed Black Cat Mountain by the history-ignorant rock hounds.  Since I'm not fond of trespassing, I have not returned to the horse thief's grave.  I fear it may be long gone - lost forever to earth movers and rock hounds.

So, how do we preserve Oklahoma's forgotten history, particularly the history of Indian Territory?  The history that was passed from generation to generation is being lost every day....Can we do something to stop the bleeding before it's too late?

I love comments - please let us know what you think....

Have A Great Trip On I-40 Oklahoma City to Arkansas

Are you planning a trip by car that will take you across Oklahoma on I-40?

I-40 is a major west-east highway, beginning in Barstow, California and ending in Wilmington, North Carolina. It is 331 miles across Oklahoma.

The trip from Oklahoma City to Arkansas differs greatly from the western half of Oklahoma I-40. You will notice more rolling hills, more Native Americans, everything is greener with lots and lots of trees and water. You will realize after traveling this stretch that there really ARE two Oklahomas.

Casinos - If you like to stop at casinos, you may never get out of Oklahoma. You will see numerous signs for casinos, more as you go further east from the west, and you can check them all out. There are some particularly well-known ones on I-40 and I will note them in this post.

After you leave Oklahoma City, you will pass through Midwest City, home of Tinker Air Force Base. Midwest City (along with nearby Moore) suffered terrible blows in the Oklahoma tornadoes of 1999 and 2003, but both cities have bounced back.

At the Choctaw exit, there is a delightful German restaurant a few miles off the interstate. Old Germany, on SE 29th Street. Stop at Love’s at the Choctaw exit and ask for directions if you need to.

Shawnee is a large city that comes about 20 minutes or so after Choctaw. Shawnee has plenty of eating places and Casino Alert!!! Shortly before entering Shawnee, you will see on the north side a huge, and I do mean huge, casino, complete with flashing signs and large hotel. This is Fire Lake Grand Casino in all its glory. Believe it or not, it’s not the biggest casino in the state, but it is one of the nicest ones. If you are so inclined, check it out. Try out their free self-serve ice cream and soft drinks while you’re there. You can enjoy Coke Floats all day long!

Back on the road, you will notice signs that let you know that you are in Indian Territory. Much of the land from here to the Arkansas border is Tribal land where the Native Americans settled in the 1800’s, and signs will let you know that you are entering , for example, the Seminole Nation. Of course, this won’t change anything for you, but it is kind of interesting to see the various tribal nations that you pass through. You will notice that the Tribal population picks up significantly as you go east from OKC.

You will now pass through Okemah, the hometown of Woody Guthrie. His childhood home and a museum are there, but I have never visited. Also in Okemah, a few miles south, is a nice and quirky winery, Grape Ranch. Exit where you see the signs that feature their logo - a cow skull made of grapes. They have excellent wine and sometimes there is live music.

Back on I-40, you will go past Henryetta, hometown of Dallas Cowboy Troy Aikman. He starred on their football team, the Henryetta Hens. Really.

If you are hungry, there is a terrific eating place on the south side of I-240, first Henryetta exit, called The Hungry Traveler. Country food and great pies.

You’ll cross over a part of Lake Eufaula, which is one whopper of a lake. Notice the street sign on the east side of the lake for Lotawatah Road. It’s an old Indian name, sure it is, of course it is…

Passing by Checotah, you may recall that this is the hometown of American Idol Carrie Underwood. Take the exit and you will go right by the Sonic Drive-In which was her high school hang-out. If you stop, be sure and order the onion rings. Walk into some of the little businesses near downtown and hear true-to-life Carrie stories from the people that know her best.

You will cross a very large bridge over the Arkansas River near Webbers Falls. On May 26, 2002 this bridge was struck by a barge, which caused a catastrophic collapse. Vehicles and one horse trailer plunged helplessly into the dark water below, resulting in the death of 14 people and several horses.

Sallisaw is one of your last towns in Oklahoma before hitting Fort Smith, Arkansas. Casino Alert!! The Cherokee Casino is located in Sallisaw. Not huge, but not terribly small, either. One of your final casino opportunities….

The rest area on the south before you pass into Arkansas is a really nice one. You will know it by the large Native American symbols in front.

I-40 from OKC to the Arkansas border is an interesting drive with numerous reasons to stop and explore. It may not wind in and around historic Route 66 like the stretch from OKC to the Texas border does, but this corridor has a unique personality and flavor that makes it one of my favorite highway drives.

We Survived The Blizzard of '09!!

If you’re reading this, then you made it through the Great Blizzard of 2009.  The usual Monday recipe post will be back next week, but it's being bumped today by the big storm.

I never want to hear the song White Christmas ever again after going through this monster! The storm hit central Oklahoma hard and turned quickly into a blizzard early on Christmas Eve, forcing me to miss my Christmas Eve trip two hours south to Mom's in Clarita for the first time in my life.  Seriously.  The first time in my LIFE.  Well, I'm nothing if not consistent.

At least most of us kept electricity and phone service. We were snowed in here for 2 ½ days, finally getting out for 45 minutes Saturday to run to the grocery. We spent the time in my house playing Facebook games (Thank you, Farm Town! Thank you, Café World!), and trying to deal with a 14 week old pup that has constant cabin fever, whether it’s snowing or not.

The television meteorologists said that the blizzard conditions with almost zero visibility were a once or twice in a lifetime situation for Oklahoma, which gets plenty of snow but rarely blizzards.

At least seven people died in Oklahoma during the storm. An elderly lady in OKC went outside, fell and died of exposure. Several people died after they got out of their stuck-in-the-snow cars and were hit by sliding automobiles. One man was attempting to get to another car to assist the driver when he was hit. I guess the lesson is to stay in your house, if possible, and stay in your car if it becomes disabled in the snow.

We stayed happily at home for 2 ½ days, did not stock up on food and drink in advance, and fared just fine. Most middle-class homes probably have enough food in the pantry to last a month. When we finally got to the grocery on Saturday, the soft drink shelves were cleared out. Not a good sign for our health when soft drinks are the things a lot of people feel they can’t be without.

There were numerous stories of heroic Okies risking life and limb to rescue others in trouble, but this is no surprise. It’s the Oklahoma Standard.

We failed to receive our Daily Oklahoman on Christmas Eve, and this caused great consternation, since I am addicted to my main news source. The network news was preempted by constant coverage of the blizzard, so I had to turn to Internet news, which I hate.

So, where were you during the great blizzard of ’09? If you experienced it, how did you fare? Please comment and let us know.

An Okie Christmas

When a person thinks back on his/her childhood, often Christmas memories are the first to spring to mind.  Whether we grew up rich, poor or in the middle, most of us had parents or caretakers who did their best to deliver a happy Christmas, even in the worst of times.  At some point after I was grown I came to the not-so-happy realization that the Christmas tree and gift opening is largely all about the children, and Christmas is never really the same once you graduate into adulthood.  But, ahhhh, those memories!!!


How did you celebrate Christmas when you were a kid?  Here's how I did it in Oklahoma, back in the day....

I grew up in a tiny Oklahoma town populated largely by my relatives and good friends.  My parents and I lived on a ranch about a couple of miles from my two sets of grandparents and two sets of aunts and uncles.  Other relatives lived within 10 miles, so Christmas back then was a terrific blend of lots of family and lots more family.

The Sunday before Christmas meant lots of Christmas songs and the Christmas story at our church instead of the usual stuff, which excited me a lot more than normal.  This was the one day of the year that I actually paid attention at church. 

We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve, for some reason.  Lunch was at my maternal grandparents, with all the aunts, uncles and cousins.  We always looked forward to the arrival in December of my Uncle Larry and Aunt Juneiva, who seemed to always be moving further and further north - from Oklahoma to Colorado to Montana and finally, Alaska.  But they always managed to drive back with their kids and dog Digger every Christmas.

My dad would be the last to arrive for lunch, usually at exactly noon, shedding his coveralls and dirty boots at our house (and unbeknownst to me, putting Santa's gifts under the tree) before driving to my grandparents' house for lunch.  Anyone who grew up on a ranch knows that cattle don't celebrate holidays and need to eat, regardless of the date.  In mid-winter, it's critical that they are fed every day, so my dad would spend the morning tending to that task before celebrating the holiday.

After lunch the race was on to the living room for gift opening.  This was always a flurry of colorful gift wrap flying like confetti, while the adults kept an ear toward the television in the den that was blasting the Dallas Cowboy game.  Later everyone would crowd into the den to give their full attention to the game - men, women and kids - everyone was a fan.  Oh, and we always had to take the obligatory family picture (which I really appreciate now).

When it started to get dark, my mom, dad and I made the 30 second trip to my other grandparents' house (yes, my grandparents were neighbors - how great is that?), where we gathered with another group of aunts,uncles and cousins in the living room for gifts.  However, this gift-opening was a bit more stressful.  My grandfather, who loved kids, would offer a dollar to every kid that stood up and sung a Christmas song.  Of course, we all did, but it was always a little nerve-wracking.  I never liked being the center of attention, but I did like dollars....

I started bothering my parents to go home soon after the gifts and songs, because I knew that Santa had been to our house by then.  My parents convinced me that Santa came early every year to Oklahoma, because he had so many places to visit, and Oklahoma was one of the first stops on his intenerary.  Of course, I bought it.  And why not - there were always wondrous gifts under the tree!  I loved seeing my parents open their gifts from me more than opening my own, although thinking back on it I believe I chose pretty lame gifts.

All of this added up to tradition - it wasn't a fancy, regimented tradition but it was a tradition all the same....A secure, happy, and dependable tradition.

If we were lucky, we had snow before we went back to school, but usually it was just bitter cold.  If we did get a good snow, I would meet up with my best friend Diane and her brother Jimmy, who lived about a mile away.   We did a lot of slipping and sliding on frozen ponds (yes, terribly dangerous!!) and hitching up numerous makeshift sleds to Jimmy's old horse ( a small ladder worked best).  I'm shocked now that we all survived.

At some point after I was grown and far away from Clarita, I realized what an incredibly lucky kid I had been to grow up in Oklahoma and be raised by the village that was my family.  Like every other kid, I always focused on the prizes at Christmas, but in the process, my family surrounded me with security, love and memories to last a lifetime, and THAT was the most important thing.

So, how did you celebrate Christmas as a kid?  Please comment and let us know!

Thanks, Dad!

Mondays usually feature the Recipe Blog. However, with Veterans' Day approaching, this week is reserved for my dad and the other American heroes, past and present.

I don't know enough about my dad's heroism in World War II. I know that he must have suffered some damage from those years in Hell, since he was never able to enjoy fireworks displays and didn't watch war movies because they reminded him of that time. He didn't like to talk about his service, but would if I asked him. I regret not asking him often enough. Here is what I do know....

My dad was in the Army Air Corps, 308th Bomb Group, 374th Bomb Squad, stationed in China for most of his service. Officially, he was an AP Armorer Gunner.

He was a Ball Turret Gunner, probably the scariest and one of the most dangerous things he could have done. He served in a B-24, a monster of a bomber, which featured, among other things, a man-sized metal ball equipped with machine guns. The ball, with the gunner in it, would drop from the belly of the plane when the enemy approached and would twirl this way and that while the gunner defended the plane from the enemy. The gunner would pretty much lay on his back with the guns between his legs, and his legs propped up on the pedals, turning the ball to face the approaching planes.

As if bombing missions were not enough, he also flew with his crew "over the hump" of the Himalayas to India for supply runs. Numerous planes crashed into the mountains and flying these missions were extremely dangerous. My dad always spoke of his pilot reverently, and said that the pilot saved the lives of his crew several times with his expertise.

Here's the thing....If you knew my dad, you would never suspect that he was a war hero, with bronze stars, numerous medals and accolades. He was just a quiet farm boy, a shy cowboy that smiled a lot and only talked when he had something to say. He grew up in a tiny town, worked the farm, went to college, then went to war and came home. Never complained about anything. Never said anything bad about anyone (although he quietly refused to buy automobiles made in Japan - only General Motors for him).

I can't imagine the horrors he faced in this war. How he felt the night before each bombing run, his terror when that pilot was flying blind over the hump to India. Twirling in the ball to aim at an enemy that was aiming and firing at him, shivering in the freezing altitude. The aching pain of missing another Thanksgiving, another Christmas, the birth of his first child. For a boy that only wanted to stay on the farm, this must have been unbearable. And yet, he and his friends bore it.

Thousands died, but my dad lived to come home. Home. Sweet home. The farm. He said it felt as if the trip home on the ship took years. His nice leather fleece-lined flight jacket was stolen on the cruise home. He didn't care. He was coming home. When he finally arrived, he pulled on his boots and cowboy hat, bought a ranch and he and my mother went to work. He was offered a teaching job in a high school eight miles away and turned it down flat. He couldn't imagine spending so much time away from home again. Eight miles was just too far.

By all accounts, the quiet and shy farm boy was crazily popular with his war buddies. He was always getting letters, cards and phone calls from his buddies all over the United States. A couple of years ago, out of the blue, I received a call from a man in Arizona who said he had gone to college with my dad. A couple of years out of school, the man went to war and saw my dad in uniform waiting to cross a street in Perth, Australia. Sixty years later he was thinking of my dad and decided to see if he could find him or at least a relative, and he found me. There were some things he wanted me to know. I really appreciated the call and the wonderful things the man said about my dad. Funny how a quiet cowboy could make such an impression....

My dad never stopped being a hero. To my big brother and I, there was no one that could top him. He was simply perfect. No one, at least to my knowledge, did not like him. He was a warm friend, the kind that was always there to feed a family's cattle or plow their field or haul in their hay if they were suffering an illness or misfortune. Always dug deep into his pocket at the church offering. Never missed his kids' school performances or ball games. Was good to his parents, my mom's parents, my mom and everyone else he came into contact with. Perfect.

In his last years, I bought him a jacket that said "World War II Veteran". Everywhere we would go, people would ask about his service and would often thank him. He was so proud to wear that jacket. After a lifetime of avoiding "war talk", he seemed to warm to it more as he got older.

My mom was a good match for him. Tough and smart, she was with him step by step, raising their two children, working her fingers to the bone and supporting him in every way.

My dad had a good life, by his measure. He never lived more than a couple miles from his own parents and my mom's parents, his sister and his brother. His entire family was within two miles of his doorstep. Our little town was filled with family and close friends, and that, to my dad, was heaven. He stepped out of his house every morning to a big, wide country with kids and family and horses and cattle and dogs and cats and trees and streams and blue sky and it was all his.

My dad has been gone for some time now and I'm sure he's building fences up in Heaven right now.

Whenever Veterans' Day rolls around, I think a lot about my own personal war hero, and how lucky I was to have him in my life. I still miss him terribly.

Thanks, Dad!

Have A Rockin' Time At The State Fair!

When the State Fair rolls around, you have the opportunity to experience a great day without spending a load of money. You should visit a State Fair at least once, and you may find yourself going back year after year.

If you don't watch out, you could wind up with some items that you realize that you don't really need when you get home, but here are a few tips to ensure that your trip to the State Fair is a wonderful experience...

Check the newspapers and internet to see if there are discount tickets to the Fair. Sometimes soda cans will have a coupon or certain retailers will be providing entrance tickets at a couple of bucks less that what you will pay at the Fair ticket counters.

Go to all of the buildings. You will see a myriad of wondrous items that will mop a floor, clean your eyeglasses, give you a massage and entertain you in ways that you didn't know existed.Watch out - Here is where you might get carried away and wind up purchasing some terrific doo-dad that will later have you wondering if your brain went on vacation during the sales pitch.In my latest trip to the Fair, I came home with a thing that folds dough to make fried pies. Never mind that I never make fried pies.... Last year I became the proud owner of a set of Sham-Wows at the Fair, so I know what I'm talking about here.

Be sure and stop by the exhibits of ribbon-winners in the various Fair competitions. You will see the largest pumpkin, the best zucchini, tomato, sweet potato, chili pepper and countless other extraordinary vegetables.Also take note of the other exhibits, you will see quilts, aprons, beautiful canned foods, numerous eclectic collections and may pick up some good ideas.

What's a State Fair without animals and shows? I generally see pigs, goats, Clydesdale horses, cows, chickens, rabbits and sheep in the barns. There are other shows and exhibits that feature performing animals - be sure and check these out.At the Oklahoma State Fair, I have seen racing pigs, performing dogs, wild west shows featuring trick riding, lumberjacks in competitions, tiger shows, hypnotists and high-wire motorcycle riders.

If you have kids, they will head to the Midway, which is where all the rides and games are located. Do your research to see if buying an all-day armband for each kid is more cost-effective than paying as they go.

Food is one of the big attractions at the State Fair. The smell itself as you walk around will make you hungry. You will see things at the Fair that you will not see any other time, and this is probably a good thing, since the Fair and healthy eating do NOT go hand-in-hand.

In my latest foray to the Fair, I had Tater Twirls, Fried Veggies, Fresh Lemonade, a Corn Dog and Roasted Corn. (I shared the Taters and Veggies with a friend, so it's not quite as bad as it looks.)

I brought home fudge, cream cheese strudel and salt water taffy.Some of the things I passed up were fried Twinkies, roasted turkey legs, Fried Oreos, Fried Butter, Fried Snickers, huge cinnamon rolls and about a million other things.

Be sure and keep a tight hold on your belongings. I have never had a problem at the Fair, but there are usually some suspicious looking characters around.I usually wear a backpack that contains my camera, essentials and a couple of light rain ponchos if there is a threat of bad weather. This frees up my hands to hold all of the fried food I am eating.

The State Fair only rolls around once a year, so plan to have a one-day guilt-free experience. Take in all of the sights, sounds and smells - you'll be exhausted by the time you get home, but you'll love it!

How To Live Okie In A Mad, Mad World

Okie is a state of mind that runs counter to the rushing society that we're all caught up in these days.

Ever been to Oklahoma? You will find that as soon as you cross the line to the Sooner State, things seem to slow down. No kidding. People talk slower, they smile a lot, cowboys are everywhere in their hats and boots, and pick-up trucks are the ride of choice. You hear "yes ma'am" and "yes sir" a lot. Visitors think they've arrived in a new world.

Now, the old song Okie From Muskogee might have been a little off the mark, because I'm pretty sure that a few people DO smoke a little in Muskogee, but the song got things right in that life is different. And not in a bad way.

Living Okie is not necessarily better for everyone. Living NYC or living LA has its perks, too. Life at a fast speed gets you more, quicker. And that's not bad, either. But if you have a desire to slow down and experience a little more of what's flying by, read on.

You can live Okie wherever in the world you happen to call home. And you don't even have to wear boots and a hat!

Slow down. WAAAYYY down. Cut some unnecessary things out of your life. Do your kids really need those piano AND dance lessons right now? Do you really have to work those extra hours at the office?

Smile more. Listen more. Talk less. This is harder for some than others, but you learn a lot more and people naturally gravitate to listeners. You will start to collect a lot more friends.

Go fishing. Yes, fishing. And I don't mean rent a big party boat and glance at your line between flirting and digging into the avocado dip. Find a pond somewhere, sit on the bank with your kids, put a worm on the line and watch a red and white bobber while shooing off curious cows. It's called making memories.

Make home-made ice cream. There are really simple, no-cook recipes, and you can pick up an ice cream freezer at any discount store. Put it on the front porch while it freezes and invite whatever neighbors are walking by to join the party.

Ride a horse. You can find a place (usually near a state park) that rents out horses to ride a trail around the scenic areas. Now, these aren't exactly spirited broncs, they're generally a little long in the tooth and extremely slow and gentle, but if you aren't skilled in riding, it's probably just what you need. You'll get a taste of what riding a horse is like, and you'll experience a lot of natural scenic beauty and peace as well.

Start a backyard vegetable garden and visit the local farmers' market. Learn some basic canning - there's nothing more therapeutic than growing and preserving your own food. It's hard to explain, but I think it appeals to our basic instincts.

Learn to piece together a quilt. The actual quilting is a little more difficult, but if you piece the top of the quilt, you can find someone at your local fabric or hobby store that will quilt it for a modest fee. Sewing a quilt that will keep your family members warm will make you feel so good.

Then there are a few optional steps, like saying "y'all" a lot, eating chicken fried steak, drinking iced tea and pulling for the Oklahoma Sooners during football season.But seriously, slowing down and experiencing what's around you could be just what the doctor ordered. It definitely can't hurt, and it's kinda fun.

What do you think? Agree or not?

Top 5 Things To Do In Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is an experience that you shouldn't miss if you have the opportunity to visit. The Big Friendly is a sprawling, smiling city on a river that pretty much guarantees you will leave with a satisfied grin on your face. Here are some places you should definitely visit in OKC.

1. Bricktown.....There are some places in Bricktown that make this list as well, but Bricktown is so terrific that it deserves a spot all its own. Bricktown in an old area of the city where the buildings were mostly red brick and so old that they were abandoned. Some forward-thinking leaders about 20 years or so ago decided to see if they could transform this abandoned area into a family-friendly place by day, and a trendy hotspot by night. The rest is history. Whether you need a place to take the family this afternoon or are looking for a place to go clubbing tonight, look no further. If you are traveling down I-40 Bricktown is visable from the Interstate. Look for the big Bass Pro Shops or Toby Keith's restaurant and you will know you are passing by Bricktown. Hop off and check it out.
2. The Oklahoma City Memorial...Cities usually build memorials or statues for monied politicians or city fathers who made great contributions to the town's progress. The Big Friendly builds its monuments and memorials to the everyday joe - people like you and me that get up every day and take off for another day of work. Which brings us to the Oklahoma City Memorial. On a beautiful April morning in 1995, a twisted and warped individual (now dead) made his way to downtown Oklahoma City and set off a bomb in a rented moving truck in front of a busy Federal building, the Murrah Building, which had a day care located on the first floor. He had assistance from another twisted and warped individual who is spending the rest of his miserable life in Federal prison. 168 innocent people were killed and 680 were injured. 324 of Oklahoma City's buildings were destroyed or damaged in a 16 block area. Oklahoma City lost some of its innocence that day. The Oklahoma City Memorial is located on hallowed ground - the actual site of the Murrah Building. Each lost life is represented by an empty chair in the spot where he/she died. The Memorial is one of the best I've seen, it's really indescribable to people who haven't experienced it. Admission is free. Don't miss the Survivor Tree and its story, and be sure and walk down the chain link fence where people from all over the world leave a part of themselves. If you want more, the Memorial Museum is located next to the grounds and is well worth the cost of admission.
3. The Oklahoma City Thunder professional basketball or The Oklahoma City Redhawks professional baseball.....During basketball season you should definitely check out a game. Located on the edge of Bricktown, the Ford Center is a nice venue for sports and, even if you're not a basketball fan, the Thunder works to make every game a really fun family experience. If you are visiting The Big Friendly during the summer, take in a Redhawks game. The AAA team from the Texas Rangers, the Redhawks are always a competitive team, and they play in the heart of bricktown at a beautiful stadium affectionately known as The Brick. No matter what game you are attending, it's a snap to park at Bricktown, take in the sights, stroll over to the Oklahoma City Memorial, eat at one of the terrific Bricktown restaurants, then walk to the game. Just a terrific day!
4. Toby Keith"s I Love This Bar & Grill...This is a nice place to eat in Bricktown, and has become a "must destination" for every visitor. Part of the attraction is the atmosphere and the eye-popping decor, but the food is great! There is a good variety on the menu, something for everyone. Portions are huge, so watch out. (If you are a meat-eater, you'll love the ribs.)
5. The Oklahoma City Zoo....More specifically, The Oklahoma City Zoologicial Park, but we all know it as just "The Zoo". There is a good reason why this is considered one of the top zoos in the United States. They seem to be always adding big, new exhibits such as Oklahoma Trails and The Great EscAPE. Don't miss this.

Since I've limited myself to five, I'm stuck with it, but there are LOTS of terrific places to visit in OKC. Maybe I'll add a few more in a later post. What about you? What do you find interesting in this town? Feel free to post and let us know!