Wednesday, July 29, 2015

July 29, 2015 Another day of Intense Heat and Humidity

We have been preparing for a move to southwest Arkansas.

We are going tomorrow to Lake Ouachita, just west of Hot Springs.

Ashlynn and Zade are riding with us.  We will be meeting Trisha, Jeff, Brady, Tanner, and Natalie there.  

We are looking forward to playing in the water, boat rides, riding the "tube" behind the boat (ok, not me, but Ashlynn and Zade and the teens!)

I think we will have to be in the water to be cool!  It reached 99 degrees today, with heat index of 115-117 degrees!  It is miserable outdoors.


Sunday, July 26, 2015

July 25 and 26, 2015 On the Move

It is not Glen and me on the move!

It is Audiology Associates!  from the "old" office to the "new office".  

WE--all of us--Sarah's parents, us, Darin and Sarah, employee Jennifer--worked packing and moving all day yesterday, and most of today.

The biggest move was all of the files.  There are different categories of files.  The bulk is the current patients, of course.  The files are all moved, and replaced on the shelves.

Today we worked at unpacking boxes.  

Sarah will see patients Monday and Tuesday.  Employees will continue to pack.  It ALL has to be done by Friday, the 31st.  

Patients will be seen at the new office on Tuesday, August 4.

Here's the new address.  Need an audiologist?  Our daughter in law, Sarah Hickey is the best. Audiologist Associates can be accessed on Facebook, also.

Audiology Associates
Sarah A. Hickey, Au. D.
3117 Blattner Drive
Cape Girardeau, MO  63701
573--332-7000

Ashlynn and Zade, Glen, and I will go to Lake Ouchita, in SW Arkansas Wednesday.  Sarah and Darin will join us late Thursday.  

I know, I know.  This trip was already on the books when the move to the "new" office became necessary.  

Both of our children, spouses, and grandchildren will all be together Friday through Monday, on a big houseboat on Lake Ouchita.  

Hope you have had a great week end.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

July 22 and 23, 2015 Play time with Ashlynn and Zade


There has been a whole lot of play time with Ashlynn and Zade!  They regularly ride their bikes up and down the street in front of their house.  Sometimes they ride their scooters!

Usually we sit in the lawn chairs on "car alert"---watching for cars to whiz up and down or around the corner of the street.

Today, however, we all went bike riding this morning.  We rode a total of 8 miles on the bike trail here in Cape Girardeau.

This afternoon we all played in the pool for nearly two hours.

Yes! we all are tired!  

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

July 21, 2015 Day with Ashlynn and Zade

We spent the day with Ashlynn and Zade, and most of the evening.

Glen assisted Darin with moving items from the Old office to the new Office.  Glen caulked all of the trim board at the New office.  

Darin and Sarah met with Sarah's sister in law who works for the family Ashley furniture store tonight.  They worked on making a list of what art/decor is needed at the new office.

This afternoon Ashlynn and Zade and I went to the RV park.  Jeff and Marcella also came to the pool with their four grandchildren.  Ashlynn and Zade enjoyed playing with Addison, Sydney, Kennedy, and Max.  

Monday, July 20, 2015

July 20, 2015 Monday----We're Back! (Cape Camping and RV Park, Cape Girardeau MO)

Sunday night was spent at Coachlight RV Park in Carthage MO.

Monday morning we started east across the state of Missouri!

There was a fueling stop, and a short stop for lunch.  About 2:15 we stopped in Poplar Bluff MO to pick up Ashlynn and Zade who had spent the past four nights with the other grandparents.

Onward to Cape Girardeau MO.

We checked into the RV park; first up was getting the electricity plugged in.  Thank you for Air Conditioning.

We made plans with Jeff and Marcella (Glen's sister) who also are parked in this park to meet with them and their grandchildren after dinner to play in the pool!

Storms, including wind, lightning and thunder and rain, blew through this area, cancelling the pool plans.

We are back "home" for the evening.  It looks like the storm front is moving to the south of here.

This is moving week for the Audiology Associates--or as much as possible.  As some point the old office will close for a day or two or three, but until then, moving boxes is starting.

Glen plans on helping with the move as much as he can.  I will keep Ashlynn and Zade company all week.  Caroline, Sarah's niece, who has been acting as nanny this summer, is busy this week. 

Saturday, July 18, 2015

July 18, 2015 Road Trip

Friday Night 
Fred and Gay, Glen, and Doug (from Cowboy Church) practiced music for Sunday morning worship service that will be held on the grounds of the rodeo.  Several people pulled up chairs to listen and enjoy the gospel music.

Saturday
We picked up Fred and Gay and went to the local grocery store for breakfast!

The grocery store is "one size fits all".  There is a florist section, pharmacy, bakery, greeting cards, and a dining area as well as all of the groceries.  One of Fred/Gay's friends told us the best breakfast was at the grocery store.

We have to agree.  THE best biscuits and gravy, and scrambled eggs.

From there we drove toward the Bartlesville area to "WOOLAROC", a museum and wildlife preserve. (Note: when Fred said we were going to "Woolaroc", I thought he was saying "Willow Rock".  I didn't know what to expect.

WOOLAROC was built in 1925 by Frank Phillips---of Phillips 66 fame.  He was a resident of NY City but loved the Oklahoma hills.  He/his company was developing the oil and gas conglomerate.  WOOLAROC consists of 3700 acres  and is "a haven as romantic and rustic as the woods, lakes, and rocks from which it takes it name.  From the buffalo, longhorns, deer, elk, and more....to the historic Lodge home and the beautiful, rolling Osage Hills, a visit to Woolaroc is unique."  Woolaroc is a mix of "woods, lakes, and rocks."

There is also a museum that has one of the finest collections of southwest art in the world..  It is a massive building.  It would take days to view each object, and read each description.

Frank Phillips has herds of various exotic animals on the ranch.  There is a drive through loop where several of the animals are visible.

Some of the wildlife are: longhorn cattle, ostrich, sika deer, fallow deer, bison, wapiti (elk), highland cattle, llama, zebra, water buffalo.  

Frank Phillips died in 1950.

 I think this is a sika deer from Japan.

 There was a huge herd of bison.

 This massive bull elk was a long way away.


Just one of many bronze statues on the site.


 Fred called this a "mountain boomer."  The lady in the museum called it a collared lizard.

 The brightly colored lizard is of the male species.



 The front of the art museum.


 Close up of the tile work in the entrance to the museum.


 The front of the lodge where the Phillips stayed. 

Glen, Fred and Gay seeking shade!  It made it to 101 degrees today.  We did very little walking outside!

Tonight we went to the rodeo performance.  Remember the performers are all ranch hands from the local area ranches.  They are all amateurs!  There were the usual barrel racers, calf roping. bronc riding, bareback bronc riding.  And--last but not least--wild cow milking.  Two cowboys on a team; one ropes the cow, the other "holds" the cow by the head; the roper gets off the horse, milks the cow--there has to be some liquid--and races back across the time line.  The one holding the cow has to get the rope off the cows head before the milker crosses the time line.  It was a hoot!
 Of course, pople watching was as much fun as the events. Here are some aspiring trick riders!

Thursday, July 16, 2015

July 16, 2015 No Matter How You Say It!

One-O-One!
1-0-1!
One Hundred One!
One Hundred Plus!
No matter how you say it...

IT IS HOT!!! That is the actual high without any humidity factored in!

We are appreciating our air conditioned home and vehicle!

We drove north from here to find the headquarters of the "Bell Cross"Ranch.  

Not only is the Bell Cross Ranch huge, over 130 thousand acres, it is known for an unsolved murder at the headquarters.  The son of the owner was killed in 1970 in a building near the home.  There has been no arrests.  It is still considered unsolved.

There is a book written about the murder that locals tell me is mostly accurate; and a movie that is not considered accurate.

We drove 2-3 miles off the main road to see the home and barns.  In addition to the main ranch (130,000A) there are three other ranches owned by the same family.

The pastures are described as "tall grass prairie."  There are rolling hills.  It is beautiful to drive through.  Many of the pastures/fields are filled with herds of the "wild mustangs." See blog yesterday.

It has been too HOT to go to the day time rodeo activities.  Many of these are preliminaries for the finals Saturday.  Two teams from Fred/Gay's church competed last night but were not successful in milking a wild cow, and team roping a cow.



Tonight Fred and Gay were scheduled to sing at the "Baptist Village" in their hometown of Cleveland, about 25 miles south of Pawhuska.  We drove down to join them.  Glen sang with them.  I sat in the audience!  There were about 40 Baptist seniors in the audience.

After the singing service we went to the home of Arleta and Donny, Fred's daughter and son in law.  Mike, Fred's son, and Fred co-own a mule colt, Topsy; and her mother who is carrying another colt.

 This is Topsy, four months old.
This is Mike, Fred's son, with Topsy.  Mike is working on "gentling" Topsy with the goal of first getting a halter on her.

We are enjoying the week.




Tuesday, July 14, 2015

July 14, 2015 Day 2 - Pawhuska OK

Officially: it is still hot!  100 degrees today.

This morning Fred and Gay suggested a sight-seeing trip.  We drove 15 miles to the town of "Hominy".  That name makes me smile!

Between here and Hominy in pastures of many-thousands of acres of ranches are herds of wild horses.  These wild horses are brought here from New Mexico to live on ranches.  The ranchers are not allowed to "do" anything to or for the horses, except provide pasture and water.  No medicine, no vaccinations, etc.  The horses cannot be tamed, gentled, taught to work.  If a foal is a stallion, it is too be castrated immediately.  Fillies are left alone.  If a horse dies, it is to be buried where it is found.

The rancher is paid a specific amount of money per horse in the herd.  There can be no other animals in the pastures.  Many of the ranches have been cleared of cattle, and only pasture wild horses.

There are many mixed feelings about this practice.  Many feel that it is a mis-use of the grasslands, a waste of good horse flesh (can't train/ride, etc).  If you are a rancher being paid, you like it.

I don't live here so don't have any definitive feelings. But, the horses are beautiful.  They do very well on the tall grass prairies.

In the town of Hominy we stopped at an art gallery owned by the Native American artist/sculpture/metal designer, Cha' Tullis.  Cha' Tullis began in 1990 to paint large native American scenery murals on the side of buildings in town.  The gallery is filled with paintings, and jewelry.  The jewelry is designed mostly of turquoise, silver, and other stones.  Absolutely beautiful.

We enjoyed lunch at a truly unique business.

This is "Wild Country Meats".  Tables and service are inside these two cattle/stock trailers.  They are a part of a meat processing plant. This is in Hominy.

 The stock trailers are next to one another.  Here is Glen, Gay, and Fred on the upper level of the first trailer.  The outside walls are covered with wood.

Glen, Gay, and Fred. 

I wondered if the most-asked question is "were the trailers new or used?"

Each couple each split a "half-a-side" of ribs, dry or wet? We chose "dry" with sauce on the side.  The verdict:  delicious, moist, fall-off-the-bone tender.  

This evening, after resting in the cool, air-conditioned motor home, we joined Fred and Gay at their rig on the rodeo grounds.  Fred played his guitar, Gay her mandolin, and all (with Glen) sang.  

Tomorrow is the official opening of the rodeo activities.  We are looking forward to watching some barrel racing, wild cow milking, etc.

Monday, July 13, 2015

July 13, 2015 Oklahoma Hills (Settle Inn RV Park, Pawhuska OK)

It's Rodeo Time!

The Osage County Rodeo and Cavalcade is this week in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

We are here at the invitation of Fred and Gay, who live about 30 miles from here.

Their church's Cowboy Church ministry sponsored an evening of music under a tent on the rodeo grounds tonight.  I can't tell you the names of each of the four musicians, but I can tell you they are/were some of the most talented musicians I have heard.

There were a fiddler player (former three-time national fiddler contest winner), two guitarists, and a steel guitar player.  

I will find out if the group has a name.

Sunday morning the Cleveland OK Cowboy Church ministry will host the morning worship service for the rodeo.  Fred and Gay will be on stage with their instruments for that.

In between we will enjoy some rodeo events. do some sightseeing in the area.

Do you watch the Food Channel?  Have you seen "The Pioneer Woman" cooking show?  Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, is from Pawhuska.  I know from her blog that there is usually some of their ranch hands/family members participating in the rodeo.

It is forecast to be a HOT week!

Sunday, July 12, 2015

July 12, 2015 Family pictures from the week end

We were blessed to have both our children and their families as well as my sister/husband, one of their sons/wife/family; and one brother and three of his grandchildren near us all through the week end.

Here's a few pictures of our families.

 Cousins: Addison, Ashlynn, Zade, and Cash

 Zade and Cash enjoyed each other's company: lots of bike riding

 Ashlynn and Addison: some people couldn't tell them apart. Their dads are first cousins.  They love each other.

Ashlynn, Addison, and Natalie.

Trisha's boys and step children:  the oldest kids: Tanner, Brady, Natalie, Landon; Darin's kids (front two left) Zade and Ashlynn; Mitch's kids (front two right) Addison and Cash.

Mitch (my nephew--sister Jan/Bruce's younger son) hosted a fish fry Friday night--crappie that he caught, frog legs, chicken filets, french fries, and onion rings.  Um-mm-m! delicious.  Thanks, Mitch, and all the help and side dishes from everyone.




July 12, 2015 Sunday Night Thoughts (Shady Lane Cabins, Motel,and RV Park, Eminence MO)

This 33rd Whittle Family Campout has officially come to an end.  Some thoughts!

There has been rain, lightning, extreme high temperatures, cool-ish temperatures in the past years, but this was a first! A mandatory evacuation!  We appreciate the work of the rangers and water patrolmen to keep all the campers safe.

All those who remained stayed at a couple of motels, and two different rv parks.

We weren't able to have the intense visiting that usually occurs.  Last night we did enjoy a family circle.  I don't know if there was an official count this year.

Here's some pictures.

 Ashlynn
 Tanner
A mean little kid! The sweetness still shows through.

 Trisha's family were able to get in a float/raft ride on Thursday before the flooding occurred (on Friday)
Fun!

 Jacks Fork River at Eminence MO
Flooding river. 
 Part of the family group checking out the river from the safety of the pedestrian bridge.



Debris seen at the edge of the campground.  Entrance to the campground is still closed. There will be lots of clean-up.

Check the next entry for a few family pictures.  I don't want to make this a book!


Saturday, July 11, 2015

7-11-2015 Rising Waters, Rising Temps, and Family (Shady Lane Cabins and RV Park, Eminence MO)


Just a brief word to say that 7.3 inches of rain since Monday July 6 caused the Jacks Fork River to rise to flood stage causing mandatory evacuation of the Campground at Alley Springs Campground yesterday.

Most of the Whittles dispersed to two different RV parks in the city of Eminence.  We are at the Shady Lane Cabins, Motel and RV Park which features full hook-ups.

The river remained "closed" today to all river traffic.  The flood waters were receding by this morning.  The rangers were spending the day checking the condition of the river.  There are various opinions as to whether the river will open tomorrow or Monday.

Everyone will go "home" tomorrow except us.  We will leave Monday morning.

I would estimate that the Whittles neared the 100+ attendance mark before the big move yesterday.  Rather than relocate some left yesterday.

More later.  We have just returned from the big family circle: announcements, talent acts, smores! and, of course, lots of visiting.


Sunday, July 5, 2015

July 5, 2015 Par-tay!!

 Photobomber Ashlynn; Zade

Zade's birthday celebration at bowling alley!


 Celebrating last Monday's birthday at the bowling alley: Zade, age 7


Ashlynn on left; Zade with Cardinals cupcakes!

Zade celebrated his 7th birthday (last Monday was Birthday) this afternoon at the local bowling alley.
There were friends and family to celebrate with him.  He had the best time ever.

Friday 
Glen and I worked at the office all day.  Glen painted.  I painted one wall, taped woodwork, then took Ashlynn and Zade to their house.  I played my first-ever game of "LIFE".  It is similar to Monolopy but doesn't take near as long for the game to end!

Saturday
It was a day off from working at the office.  Glen and I went grocery shopping, filling the cupboards for the next week of "camping" on the Jack's Fork River.  We also will have Ashlyn and Zade with us us until Thursday afternoon.  Darin and Sarah will arrive Thursday afternoon.  

Sunday
We met friends Jim and Sandy for lunch today here in Cape.  Jim and Sandy have been friends for 45 years!  They came to Poplar Bluff as youth minister before we had our first baby!  They have sold their home in PB, and are in the process of moving to Colorado to be with their younger son and family.  

Next Week--Monday through Monday
We will be along the river, in the valley, surrounded by hills which means no cell service.  We will go to the top of the hill or into town daily so send a text if you need to be in touch with us.  We will see/read the text at some point!  

Have a great week!  There will be one-hundred-plus cousins/spouses/children/grandchildren present.  Aunt Lois, the remaining sister of my dad, from Iowa will be there!

Thursday, July 2, 2015

July 1 and 2, Wednesday and Thursday

The days are slipping by rapidly.

Glen is working in the "new" office each day.

Wednesday I had a massage.  Ah-h-h-h!  Each masseuse is different.The massage was more stretch than deep massage.  It was different but still felt oh-so-wonderful.

Ashlynn and Zade spent Tuesday night with us.  Yesterday morning Glen took them to their home where Caroline, cousin/nanny, was waiting for them.

Today Glen  worked all day and all evening!  He enjoys painting and is getting lots done.  Tonight Darin and Sarah were at the "new" office all evening.  Darin and Glen concentrated on  "edging" or "cutting in" in the work room and down the hall.  

Tomorrow a crew is coming to remove old carpet.  Then there will be more painting.

There was 3.06" of rain yesterday and overnight.

I took Ashlynn and Zade to their home late in the evening.  They were worn out.  

Next week will be the "Whittle" camp-out on Jack's Fork River at Alley Springs, Eminence MO.  Remember cell service is non-existent in the park; but available at the top of the hill or in town.  We will check in each day for messages and/or texts.  The RV park is in the valley, surrounded by hills on all sides!