Love these COE parks.

Lake Texoma, Cartwright, OK

Taking the weekend off from Blogging from A to Z.

We arrived at this COE park on Friday afternoon.    What a great park right across from the TX border into Oklahoma by the bridge crossing over the dam.  

We could see the campground in the distance.

Each site in the newer section is on a large cement pad, has a table under a shelter, a grill and a fish cleaning station.   This is our "home" until Wednesday.

A decent site but this one looks perfect.   Of course it was reserved.

We've taken a walk around the campground.   Where we are there is full hook ups, 50 amp, water and sewer.  Across the way the pad are gravel and there is no sewer.  Then around the corner are the tent only sites.  I sure would not want to be one of them now (or ever).   We woke in the middle of the night to lightning and fierce thunder.     We checked the 5 day forecast and it is expected to be more of the same.

We have found the Corps of Engineer Parks to be great values.   The parks are clean and well tended.  Some have sewer, some don't.  Those that don't have clean shower and toilet facilities.    However, these parks are so well known  that sometimes getting into them can be a challenge.    Yesterday I reserved for two more, one in Kansas and another in Nebraska.     We really appreciate the 50% discount given to us as holders of the Federal Golden Passport.    A fee of from only $9.00 to $12.00 a night sure helps the budget.

When traveling from Georgetown Tx to here we saw fuel prices ranging from $3.99 on up to $4.29 in the Dallas area.   How delighted we were to see the station at the entrance of the campground with this:

Kinda hard to believe that we are glad to see fuel prices at ONLY $3.75!!!

What are you paying for gas/fuel?

Friends and Family

Cartwright,  OK

We arrived at the COE park on Texoma Lake about two hours ago.   Will blog on that at a later time as Blogging from A to Z will only be on weekdays.

So today I will talk about friends and family.   We are fortunate in that we have lots of both.   Leonard is the 3rd of 10.   I have a younger brother and a younger sister.

At a family reunion in Lousiana.  Leonard, me and the kids and grandkids on Leonards side of the family.

When we lived in NJ we held a large yard party each year for both FRIENDS and FAMILY.  Attendance ran from 75 to 125.

Why is it that when FRIENDS and/or FAMILY get together it's "let's eat"??

On occasion we re-connect with friends we have not seen in many, many years.

And as we travel and blog we get to meet new FRIENDS.  Anyone recognize any of these people?

Easter

Georgetown,  TX

The letter E brings to mind Easter as it is but 4 days away.   How different the celebration of Easter is today from when I was a child.

Easter and the days leading up to it were sacred.   Back then stores closed not only on Easter day but for the hours between noon and 3 pm on Good Friday, the hours said to be when our Saviour Jesus was crucified.  

Way back then as a child we looked forward to our new Easter outfits.   My grandmother often made mine.  I well remember her making my new Easter coat when I was about 6 or so.  Each year  I would have an new entire outfit;  a new dress, shoes, an Easter bonnet and even little white gloves.  Everyone showed up for Easter services in their Easter finest.

I well remember one Easter in particular.   My brother is 7 years younger than me.   He must have been about 6 or so.  Mom carefully dressed him in his new suit.   Our church was across the street from our house and down the street about 500 feet.   My brother, Norman, came out of the house to cross the street and go to church.   Instead of walking, he ran as children do.   In his running he must have decided it would be a good idea to jump over the hedge in our front yard.  He did not quite make it.  Up he came with one pant leg of his brand new suit ribbed to shreds.   Yup, that suit lasted maybe 15 minutes!  I so remember the reaction of our mother.   Let's say it was not pleasant.

Then there was Easter dinner.   Ham, potato salad, deviled eggs (made from the eggs we children gathered at the church's Easter egg hunt), baked beans, cole slaw.      Oh yea, the deviled eggs usually had a bit of blue, green or pink coloring on the white part.

This Sunday we will attend church as we do most Sunday's.  We will be up at the Texas/Oklahoma border where we will stay at a COE park for a few days.  When we get to that area tomorrow we will seek out a church to attend.    We will celebrate the Resurrection of our Saviour.     We will not be wearing new Easter clothes but one of the few nicer outfits we kept for such occasions.    That's okay, God does not look at what is on our bodies but what it in our hearts.

What are your memories of Easter?

Dancing!

Georgetown,  TX

Today is "D" day and the topic is dancing.

My goodness, I had a hard time coming up with a "D" topic.    Then DANCING popped into my head.

As a teenager I loved to dance, as most young people do.   Way back then it was The Twist, Mashed Potato,  The Stomp, The Stroll and of course the Jitterbug.    Every afternoon after school  it was sitting in front of the old black and white TV watching  Bandstand.    Back then it was broadcast from Philadelphia.  I can even remember when the host changed from somebody with the last name of Horn to Dick Clark.  Perhaps a reader can remember Mr. Horns first name.

As I lived in South Jersey only about 20 miles across the Delaware River from Philadelphia some of the kids I went to school with actually got to dance on Bandstand.     We each had our favorite regular on the show.  I even joined the fan club of a dancer whose last name was something like Minnick I believe.  Hey, this was decades ago - blame it on my foggy memory.

I continued to enjoy dancing while my daughters were growing and their father and I attended dances at the local firehouse where he was a member.

One time I went dancing changed my life.   It was June 1988.   At that time Country Dancing was very popular in New Jersey.   Live bands played almost every night of the week at various bars and dance halls.  Singles night was Tuesday at one such place and friends encouraged me the join them there.  I refused several times but finally agreed.  

There I met Leonard.    He worked for a company out of Houston working on heat exchangers in refineries throughout the country.    It was his third Tuesday there.  He had already danced with my friends the previous weeks.   He was on a date with another woman.   I was to meet up with a man (named Leonard of all things!) who I had been out with just once before.  

The woman Len was with went off talking to friends and the Lennie I was to meet was not there yet.   Len asked me to dance.    Bottom line, by the time the other Lennie showed up I was smitten as was apparently Len.   Lisa and Lennie were ignored the rest of the night.    Bottom line, Len moved from Louisiana to NJ and one year and three days later we married.  We still Two-step, waltz and country line dance when given the opportunity.  

Today's topic DANCING!   Are you a dancer?

Cousins for the Letter C

Georgetown,  TX

Most of us have cousins.  In some families they are close, in some not so much.     I listen to the stories Leonard tells about growing up with lots of siblings (9 of them) and lots of cousins.   I reflect on my own cousins.

I  consider my mothers family.  My grandmother was also from a family of 10 children.   I well remember the closeness of that unit.   As I child I attended many Thanksgivings and other holidays where the whole lot of them would be there.    Many years ago a few of those cousins started a family reunion tradition.   For several years there would be in attendance well over 100 family members.   As my great-aunts and great-uncles died, a few of their children continued with the reunion.   We've not had one for three years now as the driving force behind the tradition has also passed from this life.  By this time few people attended and very little interest has been shown to continue.

Beside the reunion my mother and her cousins had what they called "Cousin meetings" through the years.   Each year it seemed there were less cousins to attend.    To my count there are only 6 or 7 left.  I am sure this small group still gets together.

 On my fathers side I would see my cousins only occasionally.   I was close to none of them.

My Dad died on Christmas morning 2004.  Mom died last June.   I miss them both and maybe that is part of the reason I wish I had a stronger connection to my extended family.  I have chosen not to lose contact with some cousins.      About once a month I call two cousins who are now both in their 80's.


This is my mother on the left and my cousin Thelma who everyone knows as Sis.  It was taken a few years back at one of the family reunions.   Mom and Sis were close in age as Sis's mother was my mother's half sister and somewhat older than Mom.   Mom and Sis were best of friends.  I know Sis misses my mother's daily (sometimes more) telehpone calls.   I call once her about once a month.

My mother had two half sisters.   One half sister (Sis' mom) lived nearby and I would see her often.  The other half-sister's husband worked on military bases and the family often traveled to his stations with him.   I would not see that family as often.  I am having the pleasure to getting reacquainted with these cousins as we travel.

One is Muriel who lives in Arizona.  We spent a lot of time with her last winter while there.

Muriel and Leonard.

Muriel has 5 daughters.    I had not seen any of her children since infants.  While near Phoenix we met up with her oldest Annette and her husband Ross.

A little later today I get to meet Muriel's youngest Amy (who is just 3 weeks younger than my Amy).  Amy lives near Austin and she and her daughters and grandson are driving up to visit.


Muriel has a sister, Bonnie, who lives in Oklahoma City.  I caught up with her last Spring while in that area.  We will be in the OKC area next week and plan to see Bonnie again.

Muriel and Bonnie have a brother Bill who lives in Kentucky.   One of these days I will be paying him a visit too.

One person I consider a cousin is really my friend Carolyn.  She married my Mother's cousin Paul.

Lois (my first friend as a child) and cousin Carolyn.

There are few cousins still alive on my fathers side.   Mae is in her 80's and the only one I have contact with.  She and Mom were very close and also talked on the phone regularly.    I call her about once a month too.

We have committed to getting to together along with our cousin Kenny when I get back in the area.  I adored Kenny when we were children.

Another benefit of traveling, I get to reconnect with family members who live far from "home".

So, today's topic was COUSINS.     I so envy those families where the cousins have a close bond.   I wonder if other families have cousins who have remained close or if unfortunately my situation is the usual.  What is your relationship with your COUSINS?

B - Beauty

Georgetown,  TX

Continuing with Blogging A to Z.  Today I am talking about the beauty of nature we are privileged to see while traveling the country.   (and a little outside of the USA too).  

Somewhere in Scotland; I forget where I took this picture.    Reminds me of the Cliffs of Moher we saw in Ireland.

Now for beauty we've seem in this country.

Trees in their Springtime beauty at The Cherokee Village in Oklahoma.

The start of the Fall display at Cordorus State Park near Hanover, PA.

A different type of tree altogether on Dauphin Island, AL.

The beauty of mountains at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

And the Painted Desert in Arizona.

The letter B also means BLESSED.  We are truly BLESSED to be able to travel and witness such BEAUTIFUL sights.

Accepting Betty's challenge - AMY

Georgetown,   TX

Dear blogging friend Betty has been blogging about a month of April challenge to blog each day on another alphabet letter starting today with "A".   I accept that challenge.     But first...

Yesterday we decided since the coughing was continuing to go to an urgent care center here in Georgetown.    They, as I do, believe I am suffering from allergies.  They prescribed Clartin and a cough syrup they said might make me drowsy as it contains codeine.   BRING IT ON!  I needed the sleep.   They also prescribed an inhaler which I've yet to use.  Bottom line - the Clartin appears to be the answer and last night I slept well for the first time in ages.    Feeling much better today.

Now for my letter "A".     AMY

Amy and Charlotte on Charlotte's first birthday and Christening in July 2007:

Amy is my older daughter.    She is named after my grandmother on my mother's side. I always tell her she needs to be thankful I named her after this grandmother as the other one was BEULAH.

Since Amy was still a young child she knew what she wanted to do as a grown up.  She's always had an interest in nature, animals and history.   She is an archaeologist.  In fact, she met her husband, Scott, also an archaeologist while working in Delaware.  

Amy, Scott and the girls this past Christmas at their home in Maryland:

When thinking about college, Amy researched her options and selected, among others, The University of Denver.    Being a single mother and not making a lot of money, I worried how much I could help.  Amy was never concerned.   She's always been one to take the plunge without fear.   When accepted she was given work study assistance plus grants and was eligible for student loans.    It all worked out as she knew it would.    She took on the challenge, worked hard during and after college and managed to pay off her 10 year loans in 6 years.

Amy has always been on the frugal side.    I admire how 24 years after college graduation she still seeks the bargains and is not concerned having the latest popular "stuff".    She prefers a simpler lifestyle.

She finds joy in taking her girls on adventures.   Favorites are local parks and nature centers nearby in northern Maryland.   She wants so much for them to experience and learn.     Perhaps this comes from having the girls at a more mature age as  she became a mother of Charlotte just two days after turning 40 and was a month shy of 43 when she had Abby.

Amy and Abby on a hike last summer.

My daughter is a hard worker.  Both in her chosen profession and the care of her daughters.    It is a treat to have a meal at her home.  She always has something new and interesting, using various grains and other food she never ate while a child.

She and Scott have exposed the girls to many ethic restaurants.    She has taken me to Indian and Vietnamese restaurants, the only time I've been to either.


So today  this blog is about AMY,  a hard worker and dedicated mother and wife.   An easy choice for the letter "A".   I am proud!