LOTS OF EXCITING EVENTS COMING UP!

First, a recap in the event anyone is reading this...
Andy and I went to Tulsa to visit his dad and friends in Broken Arrow. John is an awesome cook. We met some new people we hope to call "friends", and played Farkle (hope I spelled it correctly). We went to estate sales; ate at an Irish pub downtown; and generally had a nice relaxing weekend.

Yesterday I went to downtown OKC to pick up my official "Naturalist" uniform for my job at Roman Nose State Park. The Lodge has been busy and I am sure the park will be busy this entire season. I've been working on putting together interpretive programs to present at the Park, and have learned so much fascinating history about this area, from the Indian culture to the possibility of Dalton Gang hidden treasure in the local canyons! Speaking of a busy season -- it will kick off with the upcoming TROUT DERBY at Watonga Lake, sponsored by the Watonga Chamber of Commerce, March 4-6. $20.00 to register to fish, and that also enters your name in a drawing for a Brat Boat. Andy says he is going to try trout fishing this year.

THIS COMING WEEKEND is the reenactment of the courtroom scene from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, to be held at the Blaine County Courthouse in Watonga. It is being put on as a joint effort by the Watonga Library and the Watonga Theatre Company. I will be a "townsperson" and get to dress in authentic vintage costume from the 30's -- I hope to get photos to post on our webpage. I won't name names here, but everyone involved in this production is AWESOME... I noticed the abundance of talent in this town when we first moved here -- from musicians to stage production and acting to a local magician -- but it just keeps getting better and better each year. I have to say that I am a fan of the book, one of the greatest novels ever written. READ IT if you get a chance -- REREAD it if you read it as a child!

THE LIBRARY is also hosting a "Dr. Seuss" day for grade school children, with a reading of "OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO" by (tentatively) a Cat in the Hat.

I went to a seminar on Oklahoma Tourism last week, in ALVA, OKLAHOMA. It was very informative, and I can't wait to use some of the information and tips we got there, to get people to come to WATONGA.

In our front yard, crocus are blooming and other bulbs are showing their "green" -- I am hopeful for an early Spring.

SUNNY DAYS AHEAD

This past weekend was EXCELLENT -- beautiful weather. The snow is melting so the ground is a little muddy, but since we have such sandy soil, the moisture seeps down pretty quickly. And most of the ground is covered with leaves.

Our son Drew turned 22 this past week, and celebrated in Austin, Texas with friends. I can't wait for him to come visit us again, probably during Spring Break.

We had guests stay at the Retreat on Friday night and we had a nice visit with them on Saturday morning. It's such a blessing to get to know people and make new friends.
The Roman Nose State Park Lodge had a special Valentine's dinner on Saturday night and it was a success. There was a string quartet (members of the OKC Symphony) playing during dinner, which was unadvertised and a wonderful surprise for everyone.

We are booking up for the upcoming TROUT DERBY but still have one room available. The DERBY is Fri, Sat, and Sun., and ends with awards on Sunday afternoon.

We met a young man who will be working at the country store at Roman Nose Park this season, and he is excited about the opportunities in this area. We are excited to have him here and involved in bringing people to Watonga and RNSP. It is going to be a fun, busy summer season!

STILL COLD!

OKAY, NOTHING MUCH HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST WEEK: WE HAVE 6 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND (WHEN THE SUN SHINES, IT IS BEAUTIFUL!) AND THE OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. BUT IT IS SUPPOSED TO GET AS WARM AS 30 DEGREES TOMORROW! THEN WARMER BY THE WEEKEND, AND MAYBE EVEN HIT HIGH 60'S NEXT WEEK. I HEARD THAT THE GROUNDHOG DIDN'T SEE HIS SHADOW LAST WEEK, SO SPRING SHOULD BE JUST AROUND THE CORNER. I AM ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BLOOMS ON THE FLOWERING QUINCE -- THE FIRST SIGN OF IMPENDING SPRING. ONCE THIS SNOW MELTS, I MAY SEE SIGNS OF TULIPS, BUT I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH JUST YET. SPRING IN THIS PART OF OKLAHOMA DOESN'T REALLY START UNTIL APRIL, THOUGH I CAN BE HOPEFUL OF SEEING GREEN SIGNS EARLIER, MAYBE IN MARCH.

THE WATONGA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BANQUET THIS PAST MONDAY NIGHT WENT WELL. WE HAD A FULL HOUSE OF OVER 200 GUESTS. I MADE IT THROUGH MY "PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS" AND HOPE I LEFT THE ROOM WITH A FEELING OF OPTIMISM FOR GOOD THINGS TO BE DONE IN THE COMING YEAR, INCLUDING A FARMERS MARKET.

WE ARE GETTING READY FOR THE ANNUAL TROUT DERBY AT ROMAN NOSE STATE PARK, AND ANDY AND I HAVE SOME GUESTS REGISTERED FOR THAT WEEKEND (FIRST WEEKEND IN MARCH). WE ARE DONATING ANOTHER GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE TROUT DERBY THIS YEAR -- LAST YEAR'S WINNER OF THE GIFT CERTIFICATE CAME TO STAY EARLIER THIS YEAR AND IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO BOOKED A ROOM WITH US FOR THIS YEAR!

MY JOB AT THE PARK IS GOING WELL. I AM WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER SOME PROGRAMS TO HAVE READY BY SPRING BREAK. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE OVERWHELMING, BUT I'VE CHOSEN THREE TO START OUT WITH: (1) AN INFORMATIONAL TOUR COVERING THE HISTORY OF THE PARK, CANYON, AND LODGE; (2) AN INTERPRETIVE TOUR TO HIGHLIGHT THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS' WORK IN THE PARK; AND (3) A "DARK SKIES" PROGRAM, TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF AREAS (LIKE THE PARK HERE) THAT AREN'T AFFECTED BY 'LIGHT POLLUTION'--HOPEFULLY WITH SOME "PROFESSIONAL" INPUT FROM THE OKLAHOMA CITY ASTRONOMY SOCIETY. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS AN OBSERVATORY NEAR WATONGA CALLED "CHEDDAR RANCH"....

I WELCOME FEEDBACK!

RECORD COLD TEMPERATURES!

We are in the middle of a week of record cold temperatures - 2 degrees overnight and a negative chill factor. OKC got 12 inches of snow last week.

I've started a new job at the Roman Nose State Park. It is exciting. I am working on setting up "interpretation" programs for the park. More on that later.

The Watonga Chamber of Commerce is getting ready for its annual banquet, to be held this coming Monday, Feb. 7. Then we'll be getting ready for the Trout Derby, to be held March 4,5,6.