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.... ... there were many robins outside our window.A lot of the robins appear to be young.OK, that's a little disconcerting... he's looking directly at me.Turning over every leaf in search for breakfast.I know, I know.... enough Robins, right?

This gentleman from across the street, walks his two white poodles........ 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.Well, 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.You 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?This 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.On the road to the cemetery, we passed the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Center.  Can you just imagine... I'm in picture-taking heaven.There were three big signs this size, with all the information one could need about wild horses and burros.They are just beautiful.  All colors.Isn't this Palomino gorgeous?There was even a Paint in the group.This blue crane flew from the water pond that was close where I was standing and landed in another pond no too far away.A herd of cows around the water pond where the crane landed.This one was away from the herd and looks like a Mexican bull fighting steer.Back to the horses.  Most all of them had a tag around their neck to identify when they were brought from the range, etc.I'm fascinated by the big blue crane.This 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.Fifth grade through eighth grade... Don spent here:The 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. This building was the gym where Don spent many hours playing basketball.Don 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.

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.  The lilac color crepe myrtles are rare and Mama Trudy just loves them.  Aren't they beautiful?The next town we came to was Wayne, Oklahoma.  Driving out of Wayne, Don stopped so I could take this picture.On 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.Just a little of the tack for sale.We 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.From 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.

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

We are so blessed.