Time to plow...

 My son has had a really busy couple of months.

Here he is with my new granddaughter Olivia...she is keeping him busy!

 Last month he got married.

 He also got a visit from his oldest son and his fiancé from Houston.

 He started a new job at the brand new Neighborhood Market...and loves it.

And now he finally has time to "plow" his garden!

I told him my Dad use to hook his horse old Smokey up to a plow and do the garden.

Tornado Supply Check list...

It is tornado season! These are some of the things you might want to stock in your storm shelter now. If you do not have a storm shelter you might want to pack as much of this stuff as you can in a sturdy plastic container.

A supply of water (one gallon per person per day). Store water in sealed, unbreakable containers. Identify the storage date and replace every six months.
My friend Linda says she puts a roll of toilet paper and some snack bars inside a gallon glass jar, so she can take out the toilet paper and snack bars and use the gallon glass jar for a restroom if needed. She say it has to be glass to contain the odor.

A supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food and a non-electric can opener.

A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.

Blankets or sleeping bags.

A first aid kit and prescription medications.

An extra pair of glasses.

A battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.

Credit cards and cash.

An extra set of car keys.

A list of family physicians.

A list of phone numbers for relatives, neighbors, your schools, and utility companies, and photos and descriptions of your family should you be separated.

A list of important family information; the style and serial number of medical devices such as pacemakers.

Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.

Don’t forget your pets. Canned pet food and water, sturdy leashes, harnesses or carriers, current photos of the pets and a litter box with litter.

A five-day supply of non-perishable food, bottled water and any prescription medications is recommended for your storm shelter/safe room.
Also make plans with your family members and friends to have an emergency plan to be able to find each other if an emergency hits.
On its website, Ready.gov, the Federal Emergency Management Agency says to obtain information after a disaster by watching TV, listening to the radio or checking the Internet often for information or official instruction as it becomes available.

The Wedding

My son and his new bride exchanged vows on St. Patrick's Day

everything was her favorite colors green and purple.

It was outdoors on this cold windy March day.

It snowed like crazy the day before...everything turned out great.

Spring is in the air...finally!

I was beginning to think spring would never arrive!

It is finally here and things are starting to bloom.

Of course, in Oklahoma that also means the start of tornado season.

 

She arrived!

Granddaughter Olivia Kaye Nicole arrived!

Here she is in her Dad's bassinet with a new pink and white cover.

 Four generations me, my son, my mom and new granddaughter.

 

Me, maternal grandma, the mom, the dad,

paternal great grandma, maternal great grandma and Olivia.

New Daughter In Law

 

Erick and Vanessa

St. Patrick's Day 2014

The Colors of Spring

The Colors of Spring appear in so many ways

Like having more hours of light in our days 

Yellow jonquils pop up through the earth

Green blades of grass signal a new birth

White fluffy clouds float on a gentle breeze

Red breasted robins sing from the trees

Blue skies high above so fresh and bright

Orange sunsets glow before the fall of night

Black caps and robes march with great pride

Pink bunnies with baskets of colored eggs to hide

Brown dirt is being plowed to plant garden seed

Silver raindrops will fall for the moisture they need

Gray geese will be seen flying formation north bound

Purple like buds opening on trees all over town

The Colors of Spring feel so fresh and new
Like the diamond sparkles of the morning dew

poem and photos by
BKWilliams

Chinese New Year!

CHINESE NEW YEAR BEGINS TODAY!

THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE HORSE.

We are expecting a new granddaughter in April, so I looked up the Chinese astrology information about those born in the year of the horse. 

Astrology About The Horse

source

                           

Those Born in the Year of the Horse 

Horses are popular, quick-witted, charming, cheerful, and talented.

People born in the Year of the Horse are popular.


They are cheerful, skilful with money, and perceptive, although they sometimes talk too much.


They are wise, talented, good with their hands, and sometimes have a weakness for members of the opposite sex.
 
They are impatient and hot-blooded about everything except their daily work.


They like entertainment and large crowds.


They are very independent and rarely listen to advice.

They are most compatible with Tigers, Dogs, and Sheep.


Astrologically, the horse is placed directly opposite the rat. The rat is the creator and the horse is the "consumer."


Therefore a horse year may be marked by an increase in business and commercial activity, particularly those involved with non-essentials like luxury cars, high fashion, alcoholic beverages, athletics, and anything "male" oriented.


Unfortunately, it is often a year of waste. A household should be careful to make sure they don't overspend their budgets during a horse year.
(I can so see my son over spending with his new daughter!)






Here is some Chinese Calendar information about the animals:

The Chinese New Year Calendar - With Its Associated 12 Animals

The lunar Chinese New Year (CNY) calendar below shows which of 12 animals you are!  Naturally the animal depends on the year in which you were born.  Note: if you were born in January or February you need to check if your birthday was before or after the date of that Chinese New Year. (If it was before this day your animal is the one shown for the previous year).

Rat	1924	1936	1948	1960	1972	1984	1996	2008
Ox	1925	1937	1949	1961	1973	1985	1997	2009
Tiger	1926	1938	1950	1962	1974	1986	1998	2010
Rabbit	1927	1939	1951	1963	1975	1987	1999	2011
Dragon	1928	1940	1952	1964	1976	1988	2000	2012
Snake	1929	1941	1953	1965	1977	1989	2001	2013
Horse	1930	1942	1954	1966	1978	1990	2002	2014
Sheep	1931	1943	1955	1967	1979	1991	2003	2015
Monkey	1932	1944	1956	1968	1980	1992	2004	2016
Rooster	1933	1945	1957	1969	1981	1993	2005	2017
Dog	1934	1946	1958	1970	1982	1994	2006	2018
Pig	1935	1947	1959	1971	1983	1995	2007	2019

60 Year Cycle of the Chinese New Year Calendar

Unlike western calendars, the Chinese calendar has names that are repeated every 60 years.  Within the 'Stem-Branch' system is shorter 'Celestial' cycle of 12 years denoted by animals.  Furthermore, the Chinese believe that people born in a particular year take on the characteristics of the animal associated with that year.
   Rat    Ox   Tiger  Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Rooster  Dog   Pig 2008 2009  2010  2011  2012   2013  2014   2015   2016     2017   2018 2007
Another dimension of the Chinese zodiac is the 5 'Terrestrial' elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth.
If the year ends in 0 it is Yang Metal.
If the year ends in 1 it is Yin Metal.
If the year ends in 2 it is Yang Water.
If the year ends in 3 it is Yin Water. If the year ends in 4 it is Yang Wood. If the year ends in 5 it is Yin Wood.
If the year ends in 6 it is Yang Fire.
If the year ends in 7 it is Yin Fire.
If the year ends in 8 it is Yang Earth.
If the year ends in 9 it is Yin Earth.

Weatherford Wind Turbines

Photographers from every state can be seen stopped along Interstate 40 in Western Oklahoma snapping photos of the Wind Turbines on my way to or from work on a daily basis. I am rerunning this post about the wind turbines. We get more and more of them in Western Oklahoma all of the time.

As you travel around the Weatherford area you can see wind turbines in all directions.

This information display is across from the Weatherford City Hall. The wind turbines are huge, but work like a child's pinwheel. When you blow on a pinwheel, the blades spin around. It is the same with wind turbines. Western Oklahoma has enough wind to keep the blades of the wind turbines turning. The blades are connected to a drive shaft inside the large box on top of the towers. The drive shaft turns the generator, which makes electricity.

Next to the wind turbine information is a real wind turbine blade laying on the lot. As you can see it is very large. Each wind turbine has three blades. Each wind turbine operates independently of the others. Each is basically an individual power plant.

This is a look down the blade. It is quite amazing to think of this thing up in the air turning around and making electricity. The electricity is carried in cables from the generator down the inside o the tower, then underground to the site's substation. That power then goes into the off site transmission lines and is used by the local utility company to serve its customers. There are several wind farms across the state of Oklahoma.

This is the part of the blade that connects to the tower. My husband is six foot tall, you can tell the blade is huge!

We pulled off on a side road by one of the wind farms. My husband decided to walk out to the first turbine. See how tiny he looks walking out there!

The wind turbines are so strung out, I could not get a photo that captured the full view of a wind farm. Come to Western Oklahoma and see them for yourself. They are quite impressive.



Indoor Water Park - Clinton, Oklahoma

My Grandkids love the  Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park right off I-40  in Clinton, Oklahoma!  Oklahoma visitors don't have to wait until summer to have a memorable water park experience, if they take their 2014 Oklahoma Vacation in cool weather.  With the temperature set at a comfortable 80 degrees every day of the year, it's never too cold to jump in the water.  And, in the summer, the retractable roof opens up to let in the sun's warm rays.  This 28,000-square-foot park offers tons of fun for kids of all ages. 

 

 

Take a ride down one of the park's twisting and turning water slides, like the Tornado Bowl, where you'll go down an enclosed tube slide into a bowl, then spin around until you shoot out into a landing pool.  Kids will love the multi-level playground, where a 600-gallon bucket soaks anyone who walks by, and water cannons, slides and fountains give them plenty to do.  Zero-depth entry pools allow you to swim at your leisure, while the Lazy & Crazy River propels you around the park. 

 

Even the smallest children will have a blast at the Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park.  The Cub's Cove is the perfect place for them to play, offering a small tiger slide and gentle water fountains where they can splash around as much as they want.  When it's time to refuel, concessions will be available, and annual passes will be offered so you can visit as often as you like.

Oklahoma Sports Experience

Sports in Oklahoma have been celebrated since before statehood in 1907. Now with football, hockey, baseball and basketball teams all exuding excellence, sports in the Sooner State are more exciting than ever. Experience Oklahoma’s sports heritage by attending a game or visiting one of many sports museums full of memorabilia. For more information to plan your 2014 Oklahoma Vacation in conjunction with your favorite Sporting Event check TravelOk.com

"The Oklahoma City Thunder exploded onto the NBA scene shortly after taking up their new home at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in downtown Oklahoma City in 2008. In just three years, the Thunder grabbed the NBA Western Conference Champions title and built a fiercely strong following throughout the state. You don’t want to miss being a part of what has been called the most electric and loudest fan base in the NBA. Cheer from the sidelines or up in Loud City while you “Thunder Up” with Rumble the Bison, the Thunder Girls and the rest of Oklahoma City as superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook face off against competitors with the rest of the Thunder team.

 

 

For more basketball action, head to Tulsa to see the Thunder’s minor league affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers, play against other Development League teams at the SpiritBank Event Center. Named after Route 66 that runs through Tulsa, the team has been in Oklahoma since 2005 with an impressive 14 game winning streak in the 2010-2011 season. The 66ers share the city with the WNBA Tulsa Shock, which came to Tulsa in 2010 to play downtown at the BOK Center. With their season lasting from May to September, head out to see basketball games year-round and cheer on Oklahoma’s WNBA team.

 

Oklahoma’s two major universities, the University of Oklahoma in Norman and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, have a rivalry for the ages known as Bedlam. Competitive in everything athletic ranging from baseball and gymnastics to wrestling and softball, games between OU and OSU often decide conference championships. Both universities offer powerhouse collegiate athletics with over 75 combined national titles in all sports and six Heisman Trophy winners.

 

 

There is one sport that stands apart from the rest in Oklahoma – football. Bedlam comes to a head when the Sooners and Cowboys meet for their annual match on the gridiron as sides are picked for bragging rights and nearly 90,000 fans root for their team in the crisp fall air. Rally around Sooner Magic or Orange Power and blend in with a sea of crimson and cream, or orange and white from the stands. Experience what fall sports in Oklahoma are all about as you tailgate and walk around a beautiful college campus.

 

 

If you love America’s favorite pastime, then downtown Oklahoma City is the place for you. The Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is a gorgeous spot to catch a game and has been recognized as one of the highest rated Triple-A facilities in the country. Originally named after the Land Run of 1889, the Oklahoma City RedHawks began as the 89ers in 1962 and were renamed the RedHawks in 1997. They have drawn large crowds at home games as one of the best teams in their league with 11 division, two conference and three league titles. Be sure to bring a glove to the game to catch a foul ball, and come hungry for hot dogs, popcorn and other ballpark delicacies.

 

The baseball action doesn’t stop in Oklahoma City. Head to downtown Tulsa and see the Drillers take on other minor league teams at the OneOK Field. Since moving to Tulsa in the late 1970s, the Tulsa Drillers have won the Texas League Championship three times, as well as the Eastern Division championship twice with numerous playoff appearances. Their first season at OneOK Field drew record crowds and the Drillers are now a popular summer attraction for their city.

 

Oklahoma City even boasts a professional hockey team, the Barons. Named after Oklahoma’s rich history of oil production, the Barons have been playing games as part of the American Hockey League at the Cox Convention Center since 2010. Their team is full of award-winning players with coveted titles such as Leading Goal Scorer, Best Defenseman and Best Goaltender. In their second season in Oklahoma City, the Barons were Division Champions.

 

Also named after Oklahoma’s past with Black Gold, the Tulsa Oilers have been their city’s professional hockey team since 1926 and play at the downtown BOK Center with six championships under their belt. Cheer the Barons and Oilers to victory and see some hard hitting hockey for a unique sports experience in Oklahoma.

 

No matter what sport you’re a fan of, the Oklahoma Sports Museum in Guthrie is sure to have something that will interest your inner sportsman. See memorabilia from famous Oklahomans who went professional including Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench, Warren Spahn, Jim Thorpe, Troy Aikman, Steve Largent and Adrian Peterson. The Native American athlete display, guided tours, lectures and baseball camps headed by Hall-of-Famer Ferguson Jenkins make this museum a one-of-a-kind stop for sports lovers everywhere.

 

Venture deep into Oklahoma’s sports heritage at the Jim Thorpe Museum & Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. It highlights Jim Thorpe, a Sac and Fox athlete and Olympian from Oklahoma, who was named the Greatest Athlete of the Twentieth Century by ABC Sports. Bud Wilkinson, John Zink, Michele Smith, Allie Reynolds and Bob Barry, Sr. have all been inducted in the state’s Sports Hall of Fame for their excellence in football, auto racing, softball, baseball and sports media.

 

The ASA National Softball Hall of Fame & Museum in Oklahoma City delves into the past of softball by giving a chronological history of the sport from its beginning in 1887 through the present. If you’re new to the game, the museum explains its details including differences in fast, slow and modified pitch as well as the role of the umpire. The museum also recognizes softball’s greatest players who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame and features youth and championship teams. The ASA Hall of Fame Stadium is the nation’s premier softball venue and hosts championship series every summer.

 

Oklahoma also has a history of excellence in wrestling and gymnastics on both collegiate and Olympic levels. The Oklahoma State University campus is home to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum, which is the only museum of its kind. It carries exclusive wrestling memorabilia and photos, as well as a Wall of Champions listing more than 5,000 names of those who have achieved excellence in the sport.

 

The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame is located inside Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. There is an interactive gymnastics space for children and a library of gymnastics history and memorabilia dating back to 1900. You can view an extensive video collection of competitions and watercolor portraits of inductees including Oklahoman Shannon Miller, as well as art and sculptures inspired by the athletes.

 

At Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, the Heritage Hall Sports Museum showcases four main eras in OSU sports history and features Olympians, mascots and more. The University of Oklahoma campus in Norman houses the Barry Switzer Center full of OU athletic memorabilia from the last century. Take a walk down Heisman Row to see statues of OU’s winners of the prestigious award."

Commotion - Historic Route 66, Elk City, OK

My husband and I attended the dedication of the Commotion bucking horse statue, last summer at the Old Town Museum on Historic Route 66 in Elk City, Oklahoma. Of course, bless his heart I know he thought I was crazy to want to get out in the 110 degree heat and drive nearly an hour west to take photos of a statue!

 

But, this was a special day and a very special statue. This was the dedication of a 1,300 pound statue of the famous bucking horse Commotion.  Artist Terry Kelsey created this bronze masterpiece by looking at photos and actually seeing the horse in person. As you can see by the photo above there were lots of other people out in the heat too.

 

Commotion, was part of the Beutler and Gaylord Rodeo Companies string of bucking stock. He was named the top bareback horse at the 1998 National Finals Rodeo and the following three seasons, he was the PRCA's bareback horse of the year. Commotion's bucking career expanded nearly twelve years and he is now retired on the Beutler and Son Rodeo Company ranch near Elk City, Oklahoma.

commemorative post card given out at the dedication

Oklahoma State Parks

Plan your 2014 vacation in Oklahoma to include visiting one of our 35 state parks. In addition to relaxing in the beautiful surroundings - lakes, mountains, sand dunes, and forests - you can hike, bike, fish or participate in organized park activities. Then rest in a comfortable lodge or cabin, or camp in your own tent or RV.

Go rappelling at Red Rock Canyon State Park or boulder hopping and climbing at Robbers Cave State Park. Bring your own dune buggy or rent an ATV and fly over the dunes at Little Sahara State Park or grab your wet suit and have a scuba adventure in Lake Tenkiller's dive park. 

source State Tourism Alabaster Caverns State Park

Take a guided cave tour at Alabaster Caverns State Park or enjoy your own wild caving experience at the park. The highlight of the 200-acre Alabaster Caverns State Park is the ¾ mile cavern formed of alabaster, a rare form of gypsum, making it the largest natural gypsum cave in the world that is open to the public. Daily guided tours of Alabaster Cavern leave promptly on the hour from 9am-4pm. For safety reasons, a maximum of 40 visitors are allowed on each tour. A fee is charged for the tour. The cavern recently underwent an extensive lighting overhaul. Group tour reservations are required at least two weeks in advance.  Reservations must be made by calling the park office at least two weeks in advance in order to receive a group tour discount.

 

Reel in trophy stripers at Lake Texoma State Park or cast for trout in the Mountain Fork River at Beavers Bend State Park. Enjoy boating and every imaginable water sport at Lake Murray State Park and then visit the unique Tucker Tower Nature Center in the park. Hike down to enjoy the view of Natural Falls State Park or up to the top of Black Mesa, Oklahoma's highest point. Whatever outdoor interest you may pursue, Oklahoma state parks have plenty for you to enjoy.

You can get more details on planning your 2014 Oklahoma vacation by checking TravelOK.com

Visit Oklahoma Lakes

2014 would be a great time to visit some of the lakes in the State of Oklahoma...fishing, boating, swimming, or just relaxing on the shoreline...Oklahoma has more miles of shoreline that any of the other continuous 48 states. Who would have thought that this prairie state would have so many lakes?

 

Oklahoma has approximately 55,646 miles of shoreline along lakes and ponds.*

Oklahoma contains approximately 1,401 square miles of water area in its lakes and ponds (larger than the state of Rhode Island).*

Oklahoma has approximately 167,600 miles of rivers/streams.*

Oklahoma's longest river is the Beaver/North Canadian River (752 miles); the Red River is the second longest (570 miles).*

Oklahoma's largest lake in surface area is Eufaula (105,000 acres); Lake Texoma is second (88,000 acres). The state's largest lake in conservation storage is Texoma (2.6 million acre-feet of water); Eufaula is second (2.3 million acre-feet).

Average annual lake evaporation in Oklahoma ranges from 48 inches in the extreme east to 65 inches in the southwest, numbers that far exceed the average yearly rainfall in those areas.

56% of all water used in the state is from surface water.

*based on USGS 1:24,000 scale 

Having that many miles of shoreline is amazing when you read the following facts about the State of Oklahoma:
Situated in the western south-central United States, Oklahoma ranks 18th in size among the 50 states.
The total area of Oklahoma is 69,956 sq mi (181,186 sq km), of which land takes up 68,655 sq mi (177,817 sq km) and inland water 1,301 sq mi (3,369 sq km). Oklahoma extends 464 mi (747 km) e-w including the panhandle in the nw, which is about 165 mi (266 km) long. The maximum n-s extension is 230 mi (370 km).
Oklahoma is bordered on the north by Colorado and Kansas; on the east by Missouri and Arkansas; on the south and south wwest by Texas (with part of the line formed by the Red River); and on the extreme west by New Mexico. The total estimated boundary length of Oklahoma is 1,581 mi (2,544 km). The state's geographic center is in Oklahoma County, 8 mi (13 km) n of Oklahoma City.

 Oklahoma has all kinds of lake environments!

Plan your 2014 vacation in Oklahoma!

We have something for everyone!