VACATION AFTERGLOW

We've returned from a long-awaited vacation and found everything at home as we left it. Our neighbor Coot was a great house-sitter and pet-sitter. The animals missed us but after our being back one day, they know things are back to normal. Andy and I and the animals took a walk around the property in spite of the cold temperatures (40's).



We got used to warm temperatures from the minute we arrived in Ft Lauderdale. I could have been happy just sitting by the swimming pool at the hotel there for the entire week. But the cruise we took was even better than I expected. Once on the ship, we immediately got settled into our stateroom and sat on the balcony and enjoyed the sun, knowing that the temperatures were below freezing back in Watonga. I now understand why people go to Florida in the winter.



We spent the week eating, reading, sunning, and enjoying the entertainment on the ship. The first day was pretty much spent getting checked in and settled in. The ship departed at 5:00 pm on Saturday, and we spent the next day and evening at sea heading to Haiti.

On Wednesday, the ship docked at a private port on the north side of Haiti. They called it an island, but it was really a pennisula. The port was owned and operated by the cruise line, and they offered several activities -- a zipline, a road tour in a tram, shopping, a beautiful beach, and of course, food. Andy and I stayed on the ship most of the day, sunning and reading, but we did disembark for a walk on the "island" and to get a souvenir -- a couple of pieces of coral rock (I am a cheap date). Back on the boat we had sushi and . . . .

On Thurday, we docked at Montego Bay, Jamaica. It was very different than if we had gone to Jamaica on our own, not on a cruise, because the area we were limited to was pretty much a small shopping area. To get away from the controlled area was expensive -- cab fees and fees to get on the beach. We did buy some Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee but returned to the boat pretty quickly. Everything we needed was on the boat.

CHRISTMAS TIME

The holiday season is upon us. All who know me know that I don't like to start even talking about Christmas until December, and we don't usually get out the decorations and put up a tree until mid-month. Well, that time is here! We've already been to several holiday parties and have several to look forward to. After one day of snow, we've had cold days but sunshine to make it not seem so dreary.

FIRST SNOW

It snowed last night. We watched the sky as a cold front came in from the northwest but really did't expect it to snow -- and suddenly there it came, starting at around 7:30 pm. It is just a light dusting but does look nice (and cold).

We are deep in the middle of the holiday season -- get togethers and/or parties scheduled throughout the month. Tonight is a Christmas program at the Liberty Theatre that will include choirs from the churches in town. The downtown main street is decorated with lights. "It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees. They're hanging up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace." Every year at this time I hear Joni Mitchell singing those words in my head.

THANKSGIVING

Nov 25 2010 - Drew arrived from Austin last night, late. Traffic was heavy getting out of Texas, and then there was construction on I-35 on the outskirts of OKC. It was a bad day to be traveling by any means, but he got here safely. He brought art and his cat, Petey. They are sleeping in the Oklahoma room. We visited for a while in our room, so we all got to bed very late last night but got to sleep in this morning.

The leaves outside are falling like snowflakes! Yesterday Andy and I spent time raking some leaves off the walkways and Andy cleaned out the gutters. I moved more plants into the house, as we were expecting a hard freeze last night. This morning it was around 30 degrees when we woke up, and will hopefully reach a high temperature of 50 during the day -- so not a warm day. It is supposed to freeze again tonight. I have way too many plants and need to get rid of some, but can't just throw them away -- anyone who wants to give a plant a good home is welcome to some aloe vera plant, or sansivarius (mother-in-law tongue), or that inside climbing vine (I can't think of the name of the plant at this moment)...

Andy is baking a pecan pie for tonight, and I made some pumpkin creme brulee -- a new recipe I just made up. I made a "test" batch yesterday and everyone said it was good, so I'll make some more for dessert tonight. We are having a pork loin for dinner, along with the traditional sides - garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, fruit salad, and cranberry sauce. I am sitting here remembering last Thanksgiving, when Drew brought his friend Tracy for the weekend and my friend Sandi drove up for the weekend. We had a bonfire . . .

LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT

Here is a test, to see if anyone if reading this blog.

I am looking for a new job, that will allow me a little flexibility and no weekend work. I'd take fulltime or parttime during the week. When I was hired at the bank, I didn't have to work on Saturday, but management has changed. So with the B&B business picking up a little, I need to be home on Saturday mornings to prepare breakfast. Weekdays aren't a problem, as Andy is home and with advance preparation he can handle weekday guests by himself, and we rarely have weekday guests right now. If anyone knows of a secretarial or administrative position in the Blaine County or Kingfisher, Thomas, Fay, or Canton area, please let me know.

ALSO - fyi -- we have a Facebook page for Chaparral Retreat. I am not in the habit of checking it regularly yet, but hope people will check it out and that will encourage me to check it more often. I am eager to hear from everyone . . . .

TIME TO BRING PLANTS IN

We've had a few nights with temperatures under 50 degrees, and even in the high 30's the last two nights. But daytime temperatures have been in the low 70's. I think it's time to bring in the aloe vera and sansavarius plants for the winter but I need to find room for them. IF ANYONE WANTS TO GIVE A PLANT A GOOD HOME, PLEASE CALL ME - 580-623-4269! I don't have room for all of my babies in the house.

Andy saw a bobcat out front on Monday afternoon. It had something small in its mouth, like a gopher, and was walking through the redbud thicket on Coot's side of the lane. Fortunately, our kitty cat and Skeeter were in the house at the time.

We "adopted" a cat off the street in town back in August, and she is getting bigger day by day. She has caught a mouse in the garage and dug up a mole in the front yard. She gets along great with Skeeter and Blake's little dog, Itzel. Kitty and Itzel chase each other and play together and are fun to watch. Ah, between the pets and watching the wild birds play, we have all the entertainment we need!

But man does not live by bread alone . . . so we went to a Halloween costume party this past weekend and had a great time. Good food and drink, new friends and fun costumes, and a magic show to boot, in an old rock house in town that was a perfect setting. We are already looking forward to next year's party.

I miss going to Dallas, as I haven't been able to drive since my last visit there at the end of July. I've only had a couple of "small" seizures since August, but no unconsciousness, so if my condition stays the same I should be able to drive again in February. Andy plays the role of chauffeur patiently, but I do miss driving and being able to just get out and run to town by myself.

We're having a wonderful Fall

WOW - the time has gone by since my last writing. Since then (August) the temperatures have dropped to the 40's overnight and we are having high temperatures in the high 70's and low 80's during the day. This past weekend was beautiful. We had rain on Friday, so that didn't interfere with our weekend activities. We had a great visit with our friends Chuck and Danielle from Dallas. We grilled steaks and roasted broccali with garlic, and had leftover birthday cake for dessert. On Saturday, we got the Desoto out and drove to Canton Lake, and then had a bonfire after dark up by the barn. Even the animals had a good time, sitting on laps, chasing grasshoppers, and begging for scraps. It was a lovely clear evening and we watched the moon rise behind the trees. I am always inspired when friends come to visit and we talk about different ideas for things we can do on the property.

Watonga held its 34th annual Cheese Festival over the second weekend in October. Andy and I were both very involved and the weekend went well. We even had "Watonga cheese" though it's not made here in town anymore. But it is the same family of owners using the same recipe. Andy was the Entertainment Commmittee chairman and arranged for two stages to be going all weekend. I was the Art Show Committee chairman and had approx 16 booths, with a wide range of art, from oil paintings, turned wood bowls, photography, pottery, basket weaving, and glass jewelry. I am eager for next year's show and hope to get more native american artists to participate.

The vegetable garden is still producing peppers, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes, and a cucumber here and there. I have some parsley and spinach growing, but the grasshoppers have destroyed the okra, though we did get enough to pickle a few jars. Local farmers tell me that some years are bad with grasshoppers and some years aren't so bad -- I am hoping next year will be "not so bad", as this year they were like a plague. And they are still feasting, this late in the year. They don't go for the herbs, but they have definitely eaten a lot of the ornamentals (even monkey grass) almost down to the ground.
Chuck showed me that the Turk's cap plant produces edible berries this time of year, so we will put some into a salad this weekend. The nasturtium hasn't bloomed this year, but I planted those seeds kind of late in the season so I have no expectations -- the leaves are pretty to look at by themselves.