A Trip to Thie Farm

Fresh Eggplant?

Plants to satisfy any Green Thumb's wishes.

Need a red flyer wagon from this fleet to load all those goodies and plants? 

Chatting with this farm worker he instructed me, "If someone asks you if you want to dig sweet potatoes. Say no and walk away".

Nothing like some fresh cherries.

Well, maybe these ginormous blackberries would come close.

Thanks for sharing this experience with me, Sis!

Quilting Fever

Sometimes I ache to drop in at my favorite quilt shop. The Ortho office I work for travels to the town several Mondays a month to see patients at a satellite office. The satellite office just happens to be literally just a skip around the alley from this amazing shop. I wonder if I might steal away for two seconds Monday morning to see what's new on display.

To Youth Convention

Today, we leave for Holiday Youth Convention in Tulsa at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. I am one of four chaperones for our church youth. I am looking forward to what the Lord has in store for these young people. Glory to God!

Thank You, Rebecca

For the few days spent with you and your friends. I can see now why you miss them when you are at home on break or holiday.You have quite the little nest of bosom buddies in the writing center. Thanks for sharing the experience with me.

Enjoying Time with Rebecca

It's nice to have a spell of sisterly time with Becca at College of the Ozarks. This is the first time I have been to visit her while in College, and she is a Junior. We must study, but we must also cram as many projects and excursions into the next few days as possible. What fun we will have..yipee!

Happy Fall break everyone!

Fly Fishing Fever

An interest in fly fishing began when, despite the fact that we lived on land with several small ponds, a lake, the Verdigris River a half a mile away and I fished and fished ---I have caught even one.


Upon visiting the Sherman family in 2004, I expressed an interest to Stevie who is an avid fisherman and he demonstrate the highly skillful art on the Willamette River. We didn't catch a thing...but my interest was peaked.


Recently, I happened upon a session of the Green Country Fly Fishers. They welcomed me to their group night. All older men sporting baseball caps were talking of the next fishing outing. They set up their fly tying equipment on the small tables in the community room, opened large green wooden boxes full of paraphernalia and began to tie!




They were making white flies that shimmer and dance or yellow bugs that float. One gentleman was making the tiniest fly that I have seen. One used for trout, hopefully trout. You might buy a fly in a store for $2.50 and see this one - it only cost $0.30 or so. You can really save money by creating your own. We get a great kick out of sharing stories and spending time on tie night.



You should find an inexpensive fly rod and join our group. There are ladies in the group. Our best fisher is a Lady Lawyer from Tulsa who can out fish us. Come join us any time, they urge me.

I am missing out on such a pleasant past time, maybe I should.



Art from http://www.allposters.com

Favorite Quilt Shop

Do you have a favorite quilting or fabric shop that just sends you into ecstasy the moment you step through the doorway? Lillie's Classic Quilts in Independence, Kansas does just that for me. The shop is in a well lit, refurbished downtown brick building (as you see in the photo the hardwood floors and sky blue tin work ceiling). Visiting Lillie's is like stepping into the ultimate quilters heaven! Lillibeth, when you come visit, we will certainly make a trip to Independence.

A Dominican Butterfly

Whilst Miss Ladybug was in the Dominican Republic she could not help but notice a butterfly which was stepped upon, and soon to be completely demolished by foot traffic. She swept it up and naughtily smuggled it into the U.S. Upon consulting her Butterfly Encyclopedia, Miss Ladybug determined that it was a...

Dryas Julia, Julias native to zones 1-2. What a discovery!

A Walk About the Neighborhood

These two little cottages which share an expansive front lawn are being neglected. Don't you think English gardening would compliment them immensly?

Only a few streets away, this cottage stands upon an extremely manicured lawn and under a gloriously pruned oak tree.

Camp Meeting

Camp Meeting--- Late Wednesday Night, July 23, 2008
Good friends listening attentively to a 'fishing' tale from Brother Williams. From the looks of the cafeteria, I think it's time to retire for the night. What great times we had visiting.

Time with Grandma

While Gran'ma stayed with us in May we showed her the town.

Gran'ma has had a life long dream to see this historical site.

Sunnyside Schoolhouse, Post Office, and replica of Laura Ingall's "Little House on the Prairie"

Inside Little House on the Prairie Schoolhouse, Independence, Kansas.

Earlier that morning at the Farmer's Market May 17 downtown.

Camp this Week

In the Nelson-Deal Dining Hall at Campmeeting. Rachel, Me, Mother, Sister Regina

Away until Friday evening for Family Camp in Central Oklahoma. Looking forward to seeing my friends across the state, feeling the presence of God and hopefully visiting with someone!

Native Gardening at Stillwater, Oklahoma

Viewing the Garden with fellow OSU Master Gardeners.

Each bed represented the plants available in the greenhouses down the hill.

I quite liked this bed of all native plants.

Native Oklahoma Wisteria, with a delicious fragrance.

The Beauties up close. They had such a wistful aroma.

Home from the Republica Dominicana

Last night at 10:45. Still saying Si,Si and thinking in Spanish. What a beautiful language! One of the young men from the "Instituti de Biblica" gave me a copy of praise and worship music. What a blessing and I have listened to it over and over today as I have unpacked, washed clothes, and adjusted to living again in such plush surroundings. Things like paper dinner napkins, bathroom tissue and towels were scarce.

Our Mercy Medical group helped provide comfort care for 850 people, not counting many additional children which their parents didn't register, but wanted to be seen. We reached five villages, the first three in remote areas north west of La Romana. The family is predominantly Catholic and family oriented. Their homes are minute. Babies, children, and young adults are in abundance. Men are dominating for the most part and women are passive. They are a very loving people, easy going, and possess beautiful smiles despite their rough living conditions. The people are either poor or well to do, there are few between.

I hope to be posting photographs from my best friend's camera some time next week but for now photo courtesy http://www.allposters.com.

Medical Mission Trip in July

On July 7, friends, Christina and Victoria and I are headed to the Dominican Republic to participate in a Mercy Medical clinic based in Santo Domingo, the Capital. We will be gone a week.

What have I been up to?

Among gardening, yard and house cleaning and interning I have been enjoying several interesting days.

Saturday

• Enjoyed crepes!
• Garage saling...delicate green April Cornell dress, a red flower long sleeve shirt for everyday, and a chicken print fabric to make a pillow (instead I will make a cozy that can be used for teatime or for keeping biscuits warm at breakfast).
• Antiquing in Dewey... resisted every urge to purchase the spinet desk, jadite tea box, and and retro kitchen accessories (in fact quite easy to do with a non existent budget).
  
• As we antiqued Mum and I discovered a brand new shop on Don Tyler in Dewey that sells fudge and fabric. I say, an idea for ladies!
  
• Rachel H. treated me to savory crepes at Le Creperie downtown. And what a lovely evening viewing cottages and old buildings. I do love what the businessman are doing downtown.

Sunday

• Sunday School, and Church
  
• Thin pizza for lunch from little Haley C's mini-softball fund-raiser
  
• Mum purchased flowers for the backyard and we made out a rough master plan for our gardens
  
• Worked on resume for future job
• Cello
• A buffet stored in the garage moved into our dining room under the Victorian mirror. A place of it's own at last.
• Prayer, Church...and home

Monday

• Interning (Monday through Wednesday this week)
  
• Cello lesson..what nice Rasberry tea and brownie Mrs. Martin
  
• Visit with Betty-Gram. Dominoe's pizza and Paul Pott's CD (Winner of Britain's Got Talent)
• Prayer
• Piano practice
• Chat with Mum before work
• Blog
• ...bed at last!

More from North Little Rock

We enjoyed a service at noon yesterday and skipped over to Apple Bees for a late lunch. Then to a giant warehouse of garage sale items...very nice indeed, and to Mardel's Christian bookstore. I greatly enjoyed viewing the plaques with calligraphy scriptures and beautiful pictures.
Time for a nap!
At seven the youth were playing basketball and volleyball in the Great Hall. After visiting with our fellow comrads (who are also not talented at sports) we headed for a cruise through downtown. Discovering a Commumity Bakery Cafe at 12th and Main, we stopped in for sandwiches, and pie and sat in the left front window observing the night life of downtown.

In North Little Rock

Rachel and I took a road trip here to North Little Rock, Arkansas for Mid American Youth Conference yesterday through Sunday. We are staying at a lovely La Quinta Hotel (a far cry from the first hotel we attempted to stay in!). Last evening after a wonderful service, we enjoyed a festive Mexican meal. After much visiting, back to the sanctuary at 12:00 midnight for a jam session.
The highlights:
Elizabeth and Nathan's cello and piano duet Nathan had written was incredible
Seth and his friends skit

It is great to be here with our friends and to make acquaintances with other like minded young adults.

Highlights of the HOSA Competitions

• Our community Awareness project took 2nd Place in the HOSA State Competitions...and on to nationals which will be held in Dallas, Texas in June. From the judges rating sheet we are clear on what we need to refine.
  
• Met by chance Chris, a young man from Tulsa who is friends with Seth from North Little Rock. Great to meet like minded godly young people amongst the crowd at the HOSA competition.
  
• Visiting the Penn Square Mall. Enjoyed a Gyro and Greek Salad in the food court, and browsed through J. Jill and Pottery Barn Kids store.
  
• Before returning home our bus stopped at the Alfred P. Murrah building Memorial
  

The stress is gone, and I'm glad to be home, safe and quiet. Nothing but the tick of the clock.

HOSA Competitions

Jean, Brandi, Elizabeth, Amanda and and our Instructor Mrs. Lee along with the Health Science students are headed to our student competitions tomorrow in Oklahoma City. Amanda and Elizabeth competing in High School Community Awareness, their project, Dangers of Tongue Piercing. Jean competes in Dental Photography and Brandi and I present our Adult Community Awareness, The Food Pyramid - The Key to Health and Nutrition.

See you back here Friday...and I'll tell you how we did.