Friday, July 31, 2009

Dear Diary...

Don and I had a really great day today, just driving around the country.  After his shower, he suggested we "do something" today.  That means he feels better!  Praise God!

Before we left the "Q" and while I was reading blogs and emails and having my morning caramel truffle decaf.... reading blogs and having my morning cup of carmel truffle decaf ... there were many robins outside our window.robin outside our dining room windowA lot of the robins appear to be young.looks like a very young robinOK, that's a little disconcerting... he's looking directly at me.oooo, that robin is looking at me100_1861the dew is glistening on the grassTurning over every leaf in search for breakfast.looking under each leaf for a bug or a wormI know, I know.... enough Robins, right?

This gentleman from across the street, walks his two white poodles.....100_1873... and then he walks the black and gray poodle.  We've seen he and his wife walk all four at once.  Let's see, that's a poodle for each of them and then a poodle for their poodle.  The pets even have pets!!!  All four in that black coach behind them here.same man with two other poodlesWell, it's a beautiful day and we head for the Whitebead Cemetery near Pauls Valley to repair the marker on Don's dad's grave.  The flower holder on the right had fallen off and Don promised his mom that he would fix it.  After asking the monument-maker how to stick it back, we stopped at WallyWorld and picked up a tube of liquid nails... that's what they told him to use.Don's Dad's markerYou know me, I started roaming around looking at dates on some of the older markers.  1796 - 1883 was about the oldest I saw, but I didn't look at near all of them.  The father lived 87 years and the daughter lived 88 years.  I wonder where the mother is?at the White Bead Cemetery.  1796 - 1883This cemetery is out in the country and is very pretty with lots of trees.  Don told me that when he was a kid, he took care of this cemetery, mowing and trimming by hand... no weed-eaters, yet.White Bead CemeteryOn the road to the cemetery, we passed the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Center.  Can you just imagine... I'm in picture-taking heaven.100_1894There were three big signs this size, with all the information one could need about wild horses and burros.100_1899They are just beautiful.  All colors.wild horses in the adoption programIsn't this Palomino gorgeous?beautiful wild palominoThere was even a Paint in the group.100_1892This blue crane flew from the water pond that was close where I was standing and landed in another pond no too far away.blue craneA herd of cows around the water pond where the crane landed.Don and his dad farmed this property when Don was growing upThis one was away from the herd and looks like a Mexican bull fighting steer.100_1913Back to the horses.  Most all of them had a tag around their neck to identify when they were brought from the range, etc.100_1918100_1924100_1919I'm fascinated by the big blue crane.beautiful blue craneThis place where the cows are... Don's dad leased and farmed it when Don was growing up.  They also had some cows they kept here.100_1926Fifth grade through eighth grade... Don spent here:Don's schoolThe two story building held the classrooms. The upstairs held the cafeteria and the auditorium. Don said, "About an hour before the lunch time, the yeast rolls baking would send an aroma throughout the building that would be heavenly."  So, in seventh and eighth grade, Don volunteered to work in the cafeteria a little every day and he said those cooks spoiled him rotten.  Shocker. the Whitebead school where Don was educated through 5th gradeThis building was the gym where Don spent many hours playing basketball.the gym where Don played basketballDon graduated from Whitebead Schools with eight other classmates, Salutatorian.  For about a year while in high school, Don received a grant to work at Whitebead everyday after school, painting, polishing floors, repairs, etc.  Fate Jones was the janitor/bus driver/everything man and Don said Mr. Jones taught him a lot.  Since Don left, many buildings have been added to the two original buildings, including a new gymnasium and a football and baseball field.  Over 300 students attend this country school and people even move to this area because of the excellent reputation of Whitebead School.  Neighboring and larger Pauls Valley tried to annex Whitebead a few years ago, but the voters of this community said "NO."  

Don has good memories from his years at Whitebead School.

Whitebead School

It's now past lunch time and we're hungry, so we drove into Pauls Valley to eat at Punkin's.  They have excellent fried catfish and my Southwest salad was very good, also.

From there we took Hwy 77 north to Paoli.  When I spotted these dark pink and LILAC crepe myrtles blooming.  My sweet husband made the block so I could take these pictures.  pink and lilac crepe myrtleThe lilac color crepe myrtles are rare and Mama Trudy just loves them.  Aren't they beautiful?lilac crepe myrtleThe next town we came to was Wayne, Oklahoma.  Driving out of Wayne, Don stopped so I could take this picture.old barn outside of Wayne, OKOn down the road to Purcell, where we stopped at the saddle and tack shop of a good friend, Richard Boyanton.  Here's Bill repairing a saddle.Bill at Richard Boyanton's Saddle & Tack shopJust a little of the tack for sale.100_1939We left the shop and went over to visit Richard's wife, Susan. It was good to see them again and hopefully we will get to see them again before we leave Oklahoma.Susan and Richard's house in PurcellFrom Purcell, we drove to the Warren Theater in Moore, OK to see a matinee.  We saw The Proposal... cute movie.

After the movie, we headed home and stopped in the Tri-Cities at Carmelito's for dinner.  We were pleasantly surprised.100_1944

Don and I haven't had a Date Day in quite a while and we thoroughly enjoyed today.  Thanks, Hunny!

We are so blessed.

2 comments:

Wendy and Rick Fury said...

Glad you had a great date day! We have been way to busy for anything like that. Tomorrow is the Big party for Jay. Monday we head back your way. Miss you guys! Love you guys!

Mrs. Monty said...

Hey, I'm jealous of you guys and your date day!! Enjoyed all your pictures (as usual). Take care.