Okie Sister

When I See You Smile

2010-07-05T15:33:22-05:00

This is my favorite photo from this past weekend.

I had a wonderful visit with my younger brother Rick. The rain cleared for a few hours and we were able to sit out on my deck and enjoy snacks and brewskies while listening to our favorite tunes. I will treasure this memory always.

Of course, we are completely overshadowed by Miss Thing poking her head up to be the center of attention. Little Lola has so much personality...and she's not afraid to use it. Just look at that smiling face. What a goofball!

It is unthinkable to me that someone could dump this beautiful girl in a country ditch. But that's exactly what happened to her. How can humans be so cruel to helpless creatures? Lola arrived at our house hurt and scared. There were even some fights with our other dogs...to the point that I thought I might have to find her another home. With time her wounds healed and she learned to trust again. She gets along great now with our other girls.

Lola Lulu has brought a lot of laughs into my home. She can be a pain sometimes too, but that's all part of being a puppy parent.

People, please visit your local animal shelters. There are wonderful animals there in need of a good home.

Beat the Heat

2010-06-10T10:20:28-05:00

Temperature outside - 101°

Pool Temperature - 85°

Having a swim buddy - Priceless

O - K - L - A - H - O - M - A

2010-06-06T15:20:29-05:00

"Where the waving wheat can sure smell sweet."

Oklahoma is absolutely beautiful right now with miles and miles of fertile wheat fields, as far as the eye can see.

This year’s crop looks mighty bountiful.

Weather conditions last year were less than favorable for area farmers, so this season’s dry heat was a welcome blessing.

The harvesters or “Wheaties” are starting their summer journey. Beginning in Frederick, Oklahoma, they cut their way north across our glorious state’s farmland.

This field is still a little green.

Almost there.

Perfection.

After the harvest.

"We know we belong to the land.
And the land we belong to is grand."
"Yeeow! Aye-yip-aye-yo-ee-ay!"

Tales From A Neglected Flowerbed

2010-04-27T16:45:11-05:00

Here’s what to plant for those of you that have grand ideas of gardening, but in all actuality, hardly ever water or take care of your plants.

Dianthus, or “Pinks” as my momma used to call them. These hardly little beauties are drought tolerant and come back every year.

As do these Columbines. Aren’t they pretty. I just love the blue color.

Lambs ear are soft to the touch. You do have to trim these back, because they can take over an area. I like their gray color against the other green plants.

Surprisingly, my Peonies have flowered the past few years. These have to be staked up or they will fall over and break because they are top heavy.

My Iris plants were so heavy this year that they fell over on the ground. They need to be thinned out.

My Clematis is blooming in spite of being all bunched up. It’s a climber and needs more trellis to stretch out on.

So, that’s just a few extremely hardy plants that can stand up to the Oklahoma heat and my neglect.

Mmm Minty!

2010-04-23T21:08:51-05:00

Today’s entry is to clear up one of Hubby’s face book posts and to answer a recipe request.

Thursday I discovered some lovely mint growing in one of my flowerbeds. Well, the first thing I thought of when I saw it was Mint Juleps. Don’t know why that is, since I’ve never drank a Mint Julep before in my life. I do know that this drink is very popular in the South, especially at the Kentucky Derby. So, I start thinking that I need to make me a Mint Julep.

First, I consult my Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender’s Guide for the recipe. Searching under the letter M, I find it right away.

Next, I consult the internet to find out what the term “muddle” means. I know that when my mind is muddled, I’m rather mixed up. Exactly what you do with your mint. There is even a wooden tool, or a muddler, you can use to squish your mint and sugar together.

I’m sure that when my mother shared mint with me from her flowerbed, she thought I would use it to flavor my Southern Sweet Tea, not my whiskey.

Then, I search in my cabinet for the mortar and pestle that my mother in-law gave me for grinding spices. I’m thinking this will work great to muddle the mint.

Next I get out the blender and make some shaved ice. I complete the recipe with the whiskey du jour, WL Weller's Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Then I complete my creation by garnishing with a sprig of mint.

About this time, Hubby arrives home from work and joins me in kitchen. Finally, I’m about to taste my first Mint Julep. Wow… it tastes like straight bourbon whiskey right out of the bottle. Or for someone like me that doesn’t normally drink hard liquor, it tastes like mouth wash. At the same time, I’m thinking that it is not bad, but it would be better as a shot with a beer chaser. Hubby reminds me that on TV we have seen folks dropping a shot glass down into a mug of beer, so fine bourbon whiskey and beer must be good together.

I reach into the fridge for a Bud Light Lime. Hubby grabs it and pours half of it directly into the Mint Julep glass. Thus the Bud Light Lime Mint Julep is created. Or as I have now renamed it, the “Southern Belle Bombshell.”

Out on a Limb

2010-04-22T18:20:39-05:00

Remember the end of January when we had the killer ice storm and lost two redbud trees in the front yard? Well, this is what I watched this evening. Finally!

Castle's in the Sky

2010-04-22T15:21:33-05:00

Let's all take a moment today to celebrate the absolute cuteness that is Nathan Fillion.

I was first hooked in 2002 when he starred as Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds in the television series Firefly, Joss Whedon's creative space western that also featured Summer Glau, Ron Glass, Gina Torres, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Alan Tudyk, Sean Maher, and Morena Baccarin.

I absolutely loved this show, so of course FOX quickly cancelled it.

After an outpouring of support by the show's cultlike fan base, the Browncoats, the movie Serenity was released in 2005 to bring some closure to the story line.

Nathan now stars in one of my favorite TV series, Castle, about a mystery novelist who shadows an attractive NYPD detective for inspiration.

Hope I haven't jinxed it now!

Castle playing poker with real life mystery writers James Patterson and Steven J Cannell.

Me and Miranda

2010-04-15T13:52:53-05:00

I'm lovin' Miranda Lambert's new single.

Of course, you know that me and Miranda are really close.

Baby on board

2010-03-24T08:58:57-05:00

Okie Sister

I Ate The Cactus

2010-03-03T13:23:25-06:00

Guadalajara Taqueria is a fairly new Mexican Restaurant here in Lawton. There food is unique and authentic. It's not like any other place in town. If you crave something familiar, their tacos and enchiladas are excellent. If you want something different, try a Torta. That's a sandwich with your choice of meat.

One of my favorites dishes is the Carne Guisada. I can't even describe how delicious it is. Let's just say that it's a good thing it comes with flour tortillas to sop up all the gravy. Otherwise, I would probably have to lick the plate.

I've barely begun to sample all the items on the menu. Heck, they even serve breakfast. I do feel like I'm cheating on Julio's when I eat at the Guadalajara.

Yesterday, I went out on a limb and tried the Carne Azada Plate.

It consists of: beef skirt steak topped with grilled cactus and green onions, lettuce, tomato, and sliced fresh avocado, rice, a bacon wrapped cheese filled jalapeno pepper, Charro beans, and tortillas. The pepper was too hot for me, so it got passed off to Hubby. Their salsa that comes with chips is pretty hot for my tastes too. The Charro beans are fantastic and I will be special ordering them in place of refried from now on. The grilled green onions were as sweet as a Vidalia. I'll be making these at home. Never thought of grilling them before. I was most anxious to experience the cactus, as I had never tried it. And guess what? I ate the cactus and I like it!

The Original Lawton High School

2010-02-28T09:25:09-06:00

Toured the new City Hall building on Friday. That’s the renovated Central Junior High School. The original Lawton High School. How wonderful that our city kept this landmark, instead of bulldozing it down and building a mall, like they did to our downtown main street. Anyway, I digress because it still upsets me that we lost so much history in the name of progress.

The City Hall building is now modern and spacious, with elevators and a new glass façade. At the same time, the integrity of the former facility has been preserved. That’s awesome! They even kept one classroom to act as a museum to the building’s past with photos of former Lawton High students.

The event I attended was a farewell reception for our current mayor, John Purcell. This project was built under his leadership, but he will not serve from the new mayor’s office. A desk was brought in for a final photo op and to fulfill a promise that he would sit in the new office.

The mayor was presented with a plaque that had a photo of the building, a special key to the city and encouraging mayor’s coins that he was so famous for. The photo of the building was taken by Hubby. It's stunning!

Outside, a bronze buffalo has been placed on the grounds and dedicated to this fine and likeable mayor. What a beautiful piece of art to add to the downtown landscape.

Ooh, Ooh That Smell

2010-02-17T08:50:13-06:00

Note To Self...

Before next power outage, buy unscented candles or candles all the same flavor; because Apple Cinnamon, Bamboo, Banana Nut Bread, Eucalyptus, Pineapple Sage, Vanilla ... all burning at the same time ... is kind of gross.

I Love Love

2010-02-15T07:17:32-06:00

Hope everyone’s Valentine’s Day was layers and layers of yummy goodness.

Our son gave his lady a diamond ring, so now both our kids are officially engaged.

Fiancée has a nice “ring” to it.

I think this means I need to buy some new shoes, because at some point one of them might actually have a wedding. Although I’m not opposed to elopement.

Love is in the air.

It takes a lot to find that special someone who completes you; who makes you happy and puts up with all your faults. The person that you know is going to be there for you in good times and bad. I feel they have both found that.

Or did it find them?

Hubby and I are tired of being the only “old married couple” in the family. We thought our gagging-ly sweet shining example of marriage would be an encouragement for others to following in our footsteps

...even if we can’t remember how long we’ve been married.

Snow Scenes

2010-02-11T16:37:10-06:00

Okie Sister

Survivor Man

2010-02-08T20:49:34-06:00

My Hubby is incredible, but I already knew that. The recent power outage just reinforced my admiration. He's a real man who knows how to "do stuff." Plus he has his own tools, so he can also build stuff. He can take a power saw and cut wood. He can create fire; sometimes without even trying. He can cook a gourmet meal using propane. We ate very well during the blackout. I called him My Hunter Gatherer Man.

He kept a generator running for days; filling it twice daily with gasoline. One morning it wouldn't start back up. He took it apart, diagnosed what the problem was, found a replacement part and put it all back together again. It ran smoothly from then on. He's good at fixin' stuff.

We often comment on his knowledge of random stuff. He'll say, "Now, why do I need to know that." I'll say, "Thanks Cliffie," referring to mailman Cliff Clavin, who used to "amaze" his friends with his trivia at a little bar called Cheers. But knowledge is a wonderful thing to be able to access, especially when you are in survivor mode. Somebody needs to knows how electricity works.

In the past, I poked fun at Hubby when he would come home from Sams Club with a package of fifty batteries or 1200 forks. Mostly, because we don't have anywhere to store these items. Well, when you actually need that stuff, it is nice to have it on hand. I'll have to remember that next time he comes home with 100 rolls of tp.

"Well, Early cavemen, they went out and hunt for the very food that graced their simple table. The women stayed in the cave and developed art, culture, what-have-you. Men down through the centuries have always been hunters, doers, adventurers. Cogito, it is not in man's nature to sit alone and be passive and docile."- Cliff Clavin, Old Flames episode of Cheers.