It’s been awhile. I apologize. Life has been interesting and I have had some difficulty staying of top of things. My job has been ever changing and my divorce is still ongoing. I am way behind on posting footage but I will show you what I have done.
One of the things I was doing was being part of the planning meeting for the Andy Payne Half Marathon. That was interesting. The mayor usually does this but he moved to Arizona. The starting line for this race was here in Foyil for the first time. So, not only did I attend the meetings and help prepare the town for the race start, I got to give a short speech on behalf of the Town of Foyil. That was exciting. I also had to put a jersey on the Andy Payne statue. Just before dark the evening before the race, I was climbing on the statue, trying to fit the racing jersey over arms and head that do not moved. I’m sure I was quite a sight, but I finally won the battle. I was very grateful that the race start went well and it was announced that future races will start in our town. Pretty cool!
I finally decided that I will be in the parsonage for a while and I might as well start receiving mail there. I got permission from the pastor and then went about putting the mail box back upright. I couldn’t figure out how to screw the mail box to the post properly so I zip tied everything together. The zip ties I had are bright blue. Yup, ugly but functional.
I did manage to get a video done for Grandma’s Homestead channel. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus can be seen here:
By the way, that was very tasty!
I decided to drive to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge for the weekend. That was a very cool place. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the bison and long horn cattle free ranging. I even saw a coyote on the hunt but I couldn’t get it on video. I took a wonderful hike and was thrilled with the view from atop Mount Scott, though it was exceptionally windy. I did swing by two towns I had lived in during my teen years since I was in the general neighborhood. A Road Trip Down Memory Lane can be seen here:
When I got home, I learned that the water heater in the parsonage had sprung a significance leak. Luckily, Terrye was home and was able to contact someone to get it under control until the water heater could be replaced.
I got to farm sit for a friend and I really enjoy being able to do that. Unfortunately, to get to her house, I drive past the farm. A couple of times, I saw my beautiful dogs in the field across from the farm. I did not stop to visit them and it broke my heart.
I have been slowly making my way through the Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook, posting videos from the dishes I think my taste good. Macaroni Casserole can be seen here:
It was pretty tasty also.
I also posted a video from Laura Wilder’s cookbook, Creole Chicken Gumbo. It is interesting how she cuts up chickens and leaves the pieces whole for many of her recipes. Still, the flavor was good. That video can be seen here:
I have been having a wonderful time with several of my friends at church. We go out to lunch together once or twice a month, especially if one of us is having a birthday. I have been so blessed with these beautiful ladies and I’m very grateful. We have a wonderful time and are frequently the loudest table in the room because of our laughter. It doesn’t get much better than that.
My “kids” as I call them have been very busy. My granddaughter, Kinzie and her fiance, Lakota have been working for a man that had them traveling to different restaurants that he owns in different states. At first, they spent about a month filling in at a restaurant in New Mexico, then were sent to North Dakota. Now they are near Houston, Texas, trying to earn their way into ownership of a restaurant there. They are working hard and long hours and I miss them dearly. I’m also very proud of them.
One of the men at our church has made their property very beautiful and extremely kid friendly. Darrell has made several things over the years including a rail road track with a cart to ride down the hill on, a very large sand box, a May-pole style merry go round, and a type of zip line. Over the years many children have played at “Darrelland” and this time my four year old granddaughter, Ivy, got to go. She played on everything, even the zip line. Her second trip on the zip line, she yelled, “This is the BEST DAY EVER!
In May, the judge decided to give me temporary ownership of the farm until we can determine the rest of the assets to split. I then was in charge of keeping the dogs and chickens fed. It was so very good to see my dogs and finally get to pet and feed them after so long a time. I had desperately missed them. The farm is completely destroyed though and I am devastated. While I care for and love on my beautiful dogs, I am also digging through incredibly nasty debris, trying to find my own personal possessions. Most of what I have found is terribly damaged or destroyed, or even missing. I was able to salvage the sewing machine Mom had given me, a bookshelf that Dad built years ago and a few other items. I have been putting them in a storage unit until I know the final outcome of this crazy, elongated divorce. I have found a few framed pictures and portraits Mom painted. I have hung them in my bedroom at the parsonage. That has been a blessing.
The summer at church is always full of activities. Since I live on the property, I get to be a part of it. I was unable to volunteer for any of them, but I was often there to help a little. Now that Kids Camp, Youth Camp and Vacation Bible School are over, everyone is gearing up to return to school. Ivy was too young for Kids Camp but she got to attend Vacation Bible School and had a wonderful time. I am very glad.
I chose another recipe from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook for Grandma’s Homestead YouTube channel. I was really pleased at how this dish turned out, especially after learning the secret to fully cooked, fluffy dumplings. I knew my mother always made these tasty dumplings but I never paid attention to how they were made. Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings can be seen here.
As I dig through the rubble at the farm, I occasionally find part of my possessions. I assess the item at the farm. If it is possible to save, I take it home to clean up. Sometimes, something will be able to be truly salvaged, that the mice haven’t destroyed, and those items have been going into storage. This daily assessment is difficult and I am not enjoying the process, but I am recovering some of my items and that is bittersweet. I am now paying the water and electricity at the farm on top of my other expenditures. So far, so good.
I also remade the Road Trip Down Memory Lane to include only the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuse footage in hopes to snag the algorithms for those searching for things to do in Oklahoma and particularly the wildlife refuge. That video can be seen here.
One Friday, I got to float down the river with friends. It had been many years since my last trip down the river and the first time in a kayak. It was truly wonderful. I was surprised at how easy it was to maneuver the kayak. The river was perfect; not too high and not too low. I truly enjoyed a relaxing day in the sun on the river with my friends. I was apprehensive about losing my camera or phone in the river, so I did not take any pictures or footage. I guess that sometimes you just have to enjoy yourself without photo evidence.
I was a little apprehensive to make this next dish for Grandma’s Homestead, but it actually turned out very good. Onion Pie can be seen here:
On a much more somber note, I got word that my Dad passed away July 31. I am so very grateful for all my wonderful friends who have continued to lift me up and be by my side through all that I have been working through these past months. Being there for me after my Dad’s death has meant the world to me. I do not deserve these beautiful people, but I certainly appreciate them.
I pray that your lives are busy and happy. Enjoy it while you can. See you next time!