Catching Up

We've survived the winter, loss of electricity for a week as the result of a serious ice storm, and the change to Daylight Savings Time.  We are being blessed with an early spring and some rain, though we are still in "drought conditions" and could use some more rain.  The redbud trees and gardens are popping with color!! Irises are blooming (some colors--different colors bloom at different times, so we have iris color over a longer period of time).


Earlier this month I donated blood - just to get my vitals checked.  I started getting medical insurance through Medicare, which allowed me a Free one-time checkup by my doctor.  What it doesn't cover are all of the visits to specialists and tests he referred me to have -- blood work, visit with a cardiologist, visit with a neurologist.  I received good news from the cardiologist -- my heart function has gone from an EF of 30% (congestive heart failure) to 50%.  He says that is close to a normal EF number for someone who hasn't had a heart attack!  YAY!  On the other hand, my cholesterol is high.  I've since made major changes in my eating, exercise, and medication, so I wanted to get my cholesterol checked by donating blood.  Still waiting for those results. Giving blood drains me of energy for more than 48 hours, while the body regenerates red blood cells. It's unfortunate that that's what I have to go through to stay on top of my health unless I want to pay $100+ for a doctor's office visit and several hundred dollars for blood work at the hospital lab.  Something is really messed up about our healthcare system. We shouldn't have to pay out the nose to stay healthy and prevent health conditions that can, if left undetected and untreated through preventative care, cause more serious and costly medical care.  The system isn't going to change for the better as long as it is profitable for certain entities to keep people sick. OK, that's my rant for the day.  I am thankful for every day of my life. 
One of our recent guests, from Edmond, OK, wrote on facebook:  Have you ever looked back at your life and been truly thankful for the bad things because without those you would be on a different path in your life?

So, now that I have energy again, it is time to rake leaves, trim trees, and get the vegetable gardens ready to plant.  Drew and Jenna have already planted cool weather herbs and vegetables.  We will start having wood-fired pizza dinners on April 2 and try to have a dinner every Saturday. 
 
A young couple, Stephen and Elizabeth Hunley, who live in Tennessee but have relatives in Blaine County, stayed with us at the Chaparral Retreat last November. I didn't realize Stephen was a musician until they were checking out and we some time chatting.  Then, a couple of weeks ago, they sent us a link to Stephen's  new video for his song "Oklahoma" on youtube. They had shot the video in the Watonga area earlier in the summer, and we recognized many of the location shots.  It was a wonderful surprise!  We are so happy for them.  They've been back to stay with us this past month, and we've invited them back to do a House Concert later this year. 


This past Wednesday night at the Chaparral Retreat we hosted a singer/songwriter for a house concert.  Even though it was sunny outside, the wind was ferocious so she played indoors. Her gig here was the subject of KOSU's music minute on Wednesday, where they played a clip of one of her songs and promoted her concert at the Chaparral Retreat! Thanks to all who came out to see her and support the arts and music! I thought it was a great evening!  She left the next morning to head to Kansas, and then on to Portland Oregon with several stops for house concerts along the way. 


Watonga hometown girl Katie Ballew will be performing a House Concert at the Chaparral Retreat soon. Watch for details on the Chaparral Retreat fb page, or Oklahoma House Concerts page


"Kids" from age 5 to 70+ participated on a Wednesday afternoon for some outdoor fun I organized in the parking lot at the local Methodist Church.  I had marked off ten 4 x 4 squares for sidewalk chalk art drawings.  Through our arts foundation, we provided all of the supplies and some instruction and samples of ideas. It was a gorgeous sunny day.  You can see the creativity on the Phoenix Circle Foundation facebook page.  I am thankful for the adult volunteers who came to help watch over the kids' safety, to the church for allowing us to use their parking lot, and the parents who allowed their children to come.  The church also a snack and water, and everyone had fun.
I am hopeful this will be the seed for the first annual SCISSORTAIL ARTS DAY We are trying to organize for the Saturday of Memorial day weekend.  I've made contact with the Southwest Oklahoma State University art department to get some of their art club students involved, and met with an artist in Weatherford who used to do sidewalk chalk art.  Watch the Phoenix Circle Foundation facebook  page for updated information.

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS. . .

SCISSORTAIL ARTS DAY begins


Sidewalk Chalk Art
+MUSIC
+ FOOD= A Fun day for the whole family
Saturday, May 28, 2016 —1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Corner of 4th St. and Burford, Watonga, OK(check in is at Parking Lot of
 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

 TEAMS ARE NOW FORMING--ALL AGES Please call 940-735-1065or 580-623-4269 (leave a message with your phone number for a call back) to request information and registration form, or email us at phoenixcir@yahoo.com

So, that's what's going on with us out here in rural Oklahoma.  Come visit us anytime!