New Home

Our youngest son and his family moved into their new home last weekend. They had it built on two acres they bought last year outside a small community about ten minutes from us. I love where they are because it is so peaceful and quiet and you can see all the stars at night that we can't see in town. They still have a lot of landscaping to do and trees to plant before winter. In the next few weeks they are having a fence built in part of their yard in the back.  Right now they are trying to unpack and get everything in order. It has been a job but the end is in sight. 

                                                        
If any of you have ever had a house built you know the headaches that go along with it. They've had plenty believe me. But all in all, it's a beautiful home. I'll share pics of the inside when they get it ready to show. Here are some pictures of the area around them.

                        Grace Place Road that leads to their new home.

This home and acreage is across the road from them. You can barely see the cows. The grandsons and I took a walk down the road to get a closer look. I think this is as close as the two year old had ever been to cows. He was fasinated with them.

                                                       

This is a continuation of Grace Place Road that leads to three other homes and a pond that is stocked with bass and trout. Their neighbor has given them free reign to fish there.

I like it that they have neighbors close by but not on top of them like in town. They have wanted a small acreage for a long time and we are so happy for them and I wanted to share this bit of news with all my blogville friends.

Christine
                                                                             
                                                                                  
                                                        

                                                       
                                                                                                           

Sign of the Times

                  Well, maybe not tall and dark but definitely creepy!

                                                           and old!

Christine

                                                       
Footnote: My hubby is such a good sport. He let me take this picture of him after coming in from doing yard work.

Rowdy Says

                       To lick or not to lick...THAT is the question.

                          (Footnote:  Those are not my mama's feet.)
                                                                               

Seven Truths About Me

I was recently awarded the Versitile Blogger Award from Oklahoma Granny in which I am encouraged to fork over seven truths about myself. I've been sitting here trying to think about what I would like to share about myself with newfound blogville friends and these are the ones I chose.

1.  If I were deserted on a remote island I would have to have ice cream. A day doesn't go by that I don't indulge.
                                                   

                                                      

2.  I cry easily over sad movies. Old Yeller was the first. Now you know how old I am.

3.  I watch HGTV and Food Network and I don't like to cook.

4.  I hate football but am married to a football addict.

5.  I spend to much money on my grandchildren. (Books and clothes)

                                                     

6.  I've read the Stephanie Myers Twilight saga and enjoyed them.

7.  I visited nine European countries in three weeks.


I bet you were hoping to find out some real juicy tidbits about me. Now really, do you think I would be that truthful?

Christine

Words To Live By

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:7

Oklahoma Sunset

On our way home yesterday evening from our youngest son and his wife's new house I took these pictures of the sunset. Now try to imagine the colors a much more vivid orange and hues of pinks with blue gray clouds with wisps of white streaks in the sky. My camera took great pictures but didn't transfer to the computer all that well. The closer we got toward town the sun became a huge orange ball in the sky. When I see sunsets like this one it reminds me of the song we sung in church when I was a young girl. I especially love the last two verses.

Beyond the sunset,

a hand will guide me

To God the Father,

whom I adore;

His glorious presence,

His words of welcome,

Will be my portion on that fair shore.

Beyond the sunset ,

O glad reunion with our dear loved ones who've gone before;

In that fair homeland we'll know no parting;

Beyond the sunset for evermore.

I pray that wherever you live you are blessed with beautiful sunsets.

Christine

This post dedicated to my daughter-in-law who lost her mother six years ago yesterday.

Kicking and Screaming

I understand today is the first full day of Autumn. Well, someone needs to tell that little tidbit to summer. The temperatures are still going to be in the low 90's today. Looks like summer is not going to give up so easily to what the calendar and the almanac says about this time of year. That being said I am not going to let the high temps ruin my fallish mood. I'm still decorating our home with fall colors and scarecrows. So there summer. You may be kicking and screaming for the next few weeks, but I don't care.

Aren't these fellas cute. Visited with friends last evening and this pair of scarecrows greeted us at the door. Looks like I'm not the only one in the fallish mood. 

Christine

                                                          

My Sister's Alibi

My sister at Ninny's Notes blogged a long while back about our booth at Love's Briar Patch in Tahlequah. She and I have had the booth for two years now and recently she has decided to bow out and leave me on my own. It is just to far for her to travel and be of any help to me. I understand completely. So I just finished packing up all the things she had in our booth and completely redid the space. The space is much smaller but I managed to get it all in order. The antique and gift mall is all decked out for fall and Halloween. Here are some pics of some of the booths.

By the front door.

The entry decked out in Halloween decor

Fall decor using sunflowers

Halloween decor

The following pictures are of my booth.

Halloween tree with ornaments I made.

Scarves I've made.

My Sister's Alibi

Keeping my booth stocked with merchandise is a real challenge. I go to garage and estate sales almost every weekend that I'm not busy with something else. I always keep my eye out for things I think might sell. The merchandise that has been there forever and has not sold I bring home and have a garage sale of my own. I like doing this because I don't have to spend every waking moment in a shop and I make a little money on the side, especially with the scarves. This year I'm adding some purses I've made.

                                 

I love making these purses. It is a form of lockerhooking using yarn, trim and antique broches. I took a class several years ago on how to make them. I taught Ninny how to make them too. Below is one of my favorites.

Having this booth has been a fun endeavor and I hope to keep it up for as long as I can. If you are ever in this part of Oklahoma, drop by and visit.

Christine

Rowdy Says...

I do not trust this kid.

Just what I thought. Two year olds don't know how to play fair. Ouch!

NO tickling under the leg! MAMA!!!!

                                                              

                                                                     

My New Doo

Last week I went to my hair stylist to get a "trim" and color. The trim ended up a little shorter than I wanted but in a couple of weeks it will be the length I really wanted in the first place. The cut is much easier to style and doesn't take as long to whip into place. In fact, the less in place the better.

What is my real hair color? Wouldn't you like to know.

Christine

                                                          

Words To Live By

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Psalm 51:10-12

Sign of the Times

Unless you pee on Nana's roses!

Roaring River - Last Day

The last morning we were at the park everyone got up at six so we could be out fishing at seven. Some of us were harder to get up than others.

Our granddaughter

I stayed behind in the cabin with our ten month old granddaughter while the rest of the family went fishing. I could hear my daughter-in-law hollar everytime she caught a fish so I knew they must be having a good time. After two hours of fishing they came back to the cabin and had breakfast. We packed up and headed home by noon. Everyone had a great experience at Roaring River and I would highly recommend this park for camping and fishing. There are several camp grounds, cabins and two lodges for accommodations. The town of Cassville is just a few miles away if you want to buy groceries or anything else. 

Below are some pictures of the river and what we saw while there. 

                                            

                

One of the lodges.

There were a lot of these trees.

Walking Stick

These butterflies were everywhere.

I hope I didn't bore everyone with the three days of post on our fishing trip.

Our next adventure is planned for next month with a train trip in Van Buren, Arkansas. My husband has always wanted to take that train ride in the fall of the year when the trees are turning and we are looking forward to it.

Christine

Roaring River State Park - Day Two

The morning of our second day at the park we got up very early and  the kids fixed a big breakfast before beginning our day of fishing.

After breakfast the guys went to get their fishing license and the girls and I took the kids to visit the hatchery a short walk away from our cabin. Trout are bred and raised to maturity and eventually released into the river. Each night a horn blows and that lets everyone know they are about to release 250 fish. During the fishing season, March through November, around 250,000 trout are released.       

                   

                                           Looking down on the hatchery.

                                    

                      Trout in a hatchery tank.

                      

                     

Once the guys got back we went down to the river and they fished and I took pictures.  

                                                        

                                                         

                                                                                   

                                
 Not everyone fished but sat around and wrote in journals about the trip and drew and took pictures. It was a very relaxing morning. After a few hours of this we made lunch at the cabin and relaxed for an hour. 

The guys went to fish some more and some of us found a great spot to wade in the icy clear water to look for rocks and enjoy the weather.

The water was so clean and clear and as you can see there were minnows swimming all around us. The kids really enjoyed this area.

                                                        

Our youngest son and his family left later in the evening so they could get back to work the next day and and get the kids back in school. The rest of us continued fishing for the rest of that day. 

 

                                                    
Even though many other fishermen/women were out that day and were catching trout left and right our crew wasn't so lucky. Actually, luck doesn't have anything to do with it. It takes skill and the right kind of bait. My daughter-in-law was brave enough to go up to some of them and ask what kind of bait they were using. With that information she sent the guys to the bait shop to buy some. The park ranger also told us what to use and that first thing in the mornings is the best time to fish because the fish are hungry. He ask my husband and oldest son where they were going to fish the next day and said he'd be sure and release some extras in that area. It pays to get to acquainted with the park ranger. So off to bed early because another early morning was in the works. One more post coming up tomorrow of our last day at Roaring River and I'll also post more pictures of the river and the foilage.

Christine