Irises everywhere --April 2012

Sunday Sunday

Both animals brought us "gifts" yesterday. KK brought a fat mouse down from the barn area and ate it after showing it off and playing with it for a while. Then Skeeter came to the front yard carrying a young rabbit. I know that sounds rough, but that's nature out here. Today is a gorgeous day. The sun is out and the air is just a little chilly, around 55 degrees when I went outside to pick some chocolate mint for garnish on the breakfast plates. We're serving our "trademark" Appaloosa to our guests this morning -- orange juice and Whirlwind winery's Honey Apple wine. Today will be a good day to rake leaves and clean out some of the gardens, and maybe hike at Roman Nose State Park. On Friday, Andy and a group of friends, local citizens, and school officials and teachers held a day of instruction (don't tell the kids they were being taught anything!) and fun at RNSP for Watonga middle school students. He had Kaci Cronkhite tell some of the history of her family and the park, and Larry Roman Nose shared some of his family history in the area. Travis LIndley, park manager, had arranged for some park rangers to talk about the Park's plants and animals, and another park ranger taught about stewardship and got the kids to help pick up trash. Then the kids got to ride paddle boats and play miniature golf after lunch. This was a really good joint effort among Friends of Roman Nose Association, the Park, the school district, and the Country Store at the Park. The weather cooperated-- it was a little cool but not rainy. I hoope to get some photographs to post, but check out the Watonga Republican next issue for some photos and maybe a story.

Mid-April

The last "average" frost here is April 10, or so I've been told, but this year the last day of below 30 degree temperatures was mid-March. So, morel mushroom hunting season has come and gone and as of now the trees have all leafed out, irises are in bloom,and we are getting daytime temperatures in the 70's with chilly (50's) overnights. Spinach, mesclun, arugula, parsley, cilantro, basil and snow peas are growing (good salad mix). Flowers are blooming all around the property. Andy has had to mow the yard a couple of times already. I'm constantly working on raking up leaves from the flower beds.

SPRING IS HERE

We've had rain and rain and rain, and today is HOT (80's), which means mushrooms should pop up. Tomorrow will be mushroom-hunting day. Also tomorrow, a trip to OKC to buy some garden shrubs and seeds. I've planted carrots, broccalli, spinach, lettuce, parsley, snow peas, and cilantro and look for some of them to start sprouting any day now. After the rain this week, everything is blooming. Redbuds are popping purple, phlox is blooming a light lavender, both the wild and variegated vinca are blooming. The daffodils and jonquils and narcissus have pretty much played out, but a few I planted late look like they may yet flower. Purple columbine is ready to bloom. Golden mouse-ear coreopsis is just starting to flower and will give a nice contrast to all the pink-purple in the yard (including henbit--I know it's a weed but it flowers so pretty that I leave it until it plays out a little and other blooming plants take its place. In Texas, we called a weed that flowers a "wildflower"--that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Last weekend I weeded one small flower bed and raked leaves (a never ending job), and transplanted some ground cover on Coot's side of the lane. On St. Patrick's day, drank green wine with Brad (who is such a purist, I was surprised he let me color his honey apple wine green!--what a good sport he is). I may post a photo on facebook.

I gave blood for a good cause earlier this week and it really left me weak for a few days. I hope I am ready for a weekend of work in the yard by tomorrow. Sadly, I may not be able to donate blood again if that is how it is going to affect me, as I was a little fearful of how I felt.

UPDATE

Trout Derby at Roman Nose State Park this weekend. we're eating fresh rainbow trout for dinner. Thanks to the fisherman who caught the fish and gave it to me!
Thanks also to all who manned the registration desk, Patrick, Mary, Denise, Bobby Jo, and our weighmaster, Jerry. I know I'm forgetting someone but I'll catch up tomorrow after the Derby is over. The weather cooperated today but tomorrow will be even better, warmer. Skeeter enjoyed a walk in the park and I made some new friends. It was a good day and a nice end to a very weird week!

WOW! it's already mid-February. We've celebrated Andy's birthday, Drew's birthday,and Blake's birthday...and Valentine's Day. Today, Saturday, the weather is a pleasant temperature in the 50's but windy. I planted irises, naked lady bulbs, and daffodils last week and they are starting to come up through the dirt. We already have narcissus blooming from bulbs that have been in the grounds for years. That is definitely a sign that Spring is almost here. I'm watching for the crocus to come up--another positive sign. I checked the quince this morning and it doesn't have any buds on it yet, but it won't be long. This winter hasn't been too difficult except for the one major snowfall we had (and I slid off the road and into a ditch going to work that morning) a couple weeks ago. A very nice gentleman saw me in the bar ditch and came back to help me - drove my truck out of the ditch and I was then able to make it to work. I was so shook up that I didn't get his name, but I definitely owe him BIG THANKS. If he hadn't been so kind, I would have been stuck there for some time and not made it to work.

Even though it's winter, we've had several guests at the Retreat. And we hosted a Valentine's dinner event called "Bella Notte" on Feb. 14. We had 5 couples come and Brad Stinson from the local Whirlwind Winery brought and served various wines during the dinner. We served a delicious parsley pesto on toast, an antipasta plate with an assortment of veggies, cheeses, and salami. The main course was a choice of a red meat sauce, a vegetarian marinara, and grilled chicken with an alfredo sauce. Dessert was creme brulee with chocolate. Everyone seemed to enjoy the dinner and the fellow diners, and Andy and I enjoyed serving. Brad was a huge help, and I think he had a good time too!! His wine store (Whirlwind Winery) is open on Friday and Saturday afternoons, for wine tasting and purchasing your wine for the weekend. (A glass of wine is good for your heart! So my cardiologist tells me and I'm taking his advice!!!)
We're hoping to have a regular dinner offering in the coming months, so stay tuned to this blog and to Facebook (under Andrew Joe Barrett or Chaparral Retreat) for more information. We'd like to bring some different dining options to Watonga.
I know I don't like having to drive to OKC for a nice dinner!!!

Andy and I are deep into helping with various Chamber of Commerce events: the Trout Derby in March, and the FreeWheel Oklahoma event on June 12. More information on those events are available on the Chamber of Commerce website or at 580-623-5452. The Chamber is doing something different this year in the way of the Grand Prize: A backyard patio set and grill from Lowe's. We're trying to appeal not only to fisherman (with the boat) but also to Mom and Dad and families. I know I'm buying a couple of registrations to get my name into the hopper for the drawing, even though I don't fish.
OK, time has gotten away from me and I haven't been the best at keeping this blog up to date, but I'm not a winter person and I tend to hibernate this time of year. You can always check our Facebook pages for updates. And send emails to barrettbb@yahoo.com if you have any questions or want information you can't find on this blog! Come visit us anytime!!!

Mild weather for January

I can't believe it's the middle of January! We've had some freezing temperatures, but this past week was pleasant with daytime temps in the 40's and 50's, and yesterday (Saturday) it was almost 60 degrees during the day! It was nice enough to have a bonfire and invite friends over for drinks and conversation. Vernon brought his guitar and played for us. Roy and his wife Rose came too, but without instruments (he'll know better next time!), though he played Vernon's guitar. Veva and Gerald and Brad and Tanya also came. And we were joined by our B&B guests, Jim and Arletta from Stillwater. The sky was full of stars and the wind stayed quiet, so it was a perfect night to be outside. I'm eager for spring weather when we can have outside entertainment regularly. Those friends who didn't come by will get another chance!

The Phoenix Circle Foundation is gearing up to get a NEA grant application in by the end of February in the hopes of establishing an arts center here in Watonga to serve Blaine County. We have big plans and need the help and support of the entire community if we are going to make this happen. Check out "Phoenix Circle Foundation" on facebook and watch for our Paypall account to open soon to accept donations. We are glad to send a tax receipt upon request (we are a valid 501(c3) educational non-profit corporation). Also look for ways to support the Foundation at upcoming benefit concerts and other events. I'll keep you posted here and on the FB page, and also Andrew Barrett's FB page.