Sept. 5, 2016 Monday Labor Day
In spite of this weekend being a traditional "holiday", many have been laboring with end-of-summer chores. Drew and Jenna and Andy all went out before the break of day to help our local vintners, Brad and Don, and other volunteers to harvest grapes out near Fay OK. They then bring the buckets of grapes to the winery building in town and go through the crush and press process to get the juice for future wines. It is a wonderful agri-tourism activity, with people coming from Edmond, other suburbs of OKC, and as far away as Dallas to help. Brad's wife cooks and sets out a wonderful lunch for the workers. They are harvesting again this morning to try to get the last of the grapes off the vine, so it will be another busy day.
There were family reunions and gatherings all during the month of August in the area. Motels were full, the Lodge and campsites at Roman Nose State Park were all filled, and Chaparral Retreat & Guesthouse B&B had a full house. The weather has been beautiful, especially over Labor Day weekend. There were more boats on Canton Lake than I have seen out there in several years, and the beach was packed. We took friends out to the Overlook restaurant on the lake -- they serve really good hamburgers and the best onion rings I think I've ever had.
This was a perfect weekend to attract tourists to our area. Last year I got elected to the board of directors of a state tourism organization, to represent Blaine County, in the hopes that I could help give Watonga some exposure and let the town "leaders" see how tourism can work for the city as an economic development tool. After eight years here, I've learned that there are thousands of people who come to our area but less than one percent of them know that there is anything to do in the nearby town or anything other than the State Park. We are still waiting for the city of Watonga and the Chamber of Commerce to realize this. Actually Andy and I aren't "waiting" anymore; we've accepted that the town itself isn't really interested in tourism dollars. So we do what we can to give visitors something to do -- and believe me, there are lots of visitors that come here during the spring, summer, and fall. Our concert series, called OKLAHOMA HOUSE CONCERTS, has grown this past year and we're becoming known as a unique venue for live musicians from all over the country. We have so much fun with our guests and one-day visitors and people who come out for the music and art activities. [I'm going to stop my fall down the rabbit hole now .... ]
These concerts are FREE -- we provide lodging and meals to the artist, and accept donations to the PHOENIX CIRCLE FOUNDATION (a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational nonprofit organization to be able to bring music and arts education programs to rural Oklahoma. Of course, tips to the musician and CD sales help them as they journey across country to share their talents.
The evening is BYO Beverage, snacks, lawn chair or blanket. We guarantee you'll have a special experience. More information is available on our facebook page or the Retreat's website,
www.chaparralbb.com. We also promote these events at
watonganews.blogspot.com and on KOSU Community Calendar.
The Blaine County Free Fair was held last the last weekend in August. Winners in the numerous categories will be in the Watonga Republican. On a personal note, I won ribbons on two photographs I submitted (below). I encourage all Blaine County residents to start thinking about what they can contribute to the Blaine County Fair for next year!!
(c) Linda Barrett 2016
Merry Ellen Kirk and Ruth Acuff, Oct. 6, time TBA
(c) Linda Barrett 2016