Ladies Trip to Ponca City.............

The ladies group from my church invited my to tag along on a trip to Ponca City.

First stop.............

The 55-room Italian Renaissance mansion, thirty acres of beautiful vista and gardens.

Marland Estate Mansion.

In the courtyard to greet us is The Whittler.

The mansion is about 43,561 square feet spread over 4 levels.  55 rooms,

 including 10 bedrooms, 7 fireplaces, and 3 kitchens.  The ballroom will accommodate 300 people.

   The room is crowned with a ceiling covered in gold leaf.  To replace the ceiling and the Waterford crystal chandeliers today would cost $2 million.

This is the converted coach house where E.W. Marland  (1874-1941) and

Lydie (Roberts) Marland (1900-1987) resided when they died.

Lydie was first wife, Virginia Marland's(1876-1926) sister's daughter.

The Marland's had adopted Lydie and brother George (1897-1957) in 1916.

Two years after Virginia's death, E.W. had the adoption of Lydie annulled

and she became his second wife on July 14, 1928.

Then, off to enjoy the beautiful Lester and Mary Cann Memorial Gardens.

In the court yard is this hugh tree.  This is the site for many social events.

The flowers were absolutely gorgeous!

Even the garden cat was laid back in the cool of the shade.

Last stop, Standing Bear Museum and Education Center.  A place where

 Kaw, Osage, Otoe-Missouria, Pawnee, Ponca and Tonkawa Indian tribes come together
to honor Standing Bear Ponca chief.

The artwork is amazing.

Where have you traveled to in our Great State of Oklahoma?

Happy Birthday Kristi, Happy Birthday to you..

          It's time to sing Happy Birthday to my beautiful youngest daughter. 

 Born July 18,1977 in Oklahoma City.

She had an older sister, Juli waiting at home for her.

Onery and into everything .

A mind all her own.

      Kristi had those beautiful blue eyes when she was born,

          has kept them all this time, sharing them with her son Logan.

Eighth grade rolled around......

........She starting blooming!

Tenth grade what a change!

Sweet sixteen!

Every girl's dream graduating from high school.

Then a family.......she gave us these wonderful Grandson's.

                                                     Andy and Logan are quite the pair!

Happy Birthday Kristi!

I love You!

Mom

Happy Birthday Dad!

July 16, 1935 was my Dad's date of birth.  Date of his death, January 28, 1994.

This a tribute to him from my heart.

I am his first born.

We were good buddies while I was growing up.

He walked me down the aisle.

I gave him his first grandchild.

He gave me memories.

Happy 75th birthday, Dad!

I miss you!

I love you!

Good Things Take Alittle Longer

Another Fourth of July has come and gone. But the hot weather has remained. 
altho' it has been the coolest fourth since 1997.

Family grilled hot dogs.  Nana made homemade ice cream and Juli and Mike brought water melon. Everyone ate way too much.


Before the church service today I found out the secretary position is coming open.  This time last year, I really wanted this job.  I would never a second thought about applying for it! I have dreamed about this little gem of a job.  Good hours, part time, off holidays and would be serving the church in a small way.  The pay is not to good, but after all it was our little church.

Then, here it is.  If all went well I would be learning a new job!  Wait a minute...................

I have had to make a decision.  Work at church or spend time with "my honey".

Since he retired, we have this drop what you're doing and take a road trip attitude. That means we go camping during the week when there is no families around, just other ole farts.

But that is not my real reason for letting this jewel of a job go. Since we have both been married before, we have never had that "honeymoon" time with each other.  It has been kinda a honeymoon since he retired.

For those of you who know us, know about "my honey" and his troubles.  I know that his time on earth is borrowed time and I have not had enough time with him yet.  He is my soul mate. Even if we never leave this house, and I watch him hitting golf balls from the living room window, I will be thrilled.

People see just a hard working man that looks like he has been rode hard and put away wet, which in many ways he has. But he picked up being a father to my daughters when bio Dad shut them out and put my life back together.  Had many hospital stays and the mid 60's. 

After many prayers and lots of tears the past couple of days, the job will have to wait.  I will be spending all my time as having fun with "my honey" and holding his hand when he is having one of his blah-saze days.