Oklahoma-Where the Wind Goes Roarin Cross the Plain

Howdy, back from my Oklahoma vacation.  Should have waited to start my blog until I got back so there would not have been such a long gap between postings.  Oh well.

I went to see my 87 year old aunt who moved to Owasso, Oklahoma from Missouri to live with her daughter.  What an amazing woman.  She cooks and plants garden and still cans a few things. She can talk about anything and it was a most enjoyable time. 

Owasso is an Osage Indian word meaning "the end" or "turnaround," and the town was so named because the railroad line ended in a tunaround there. The weather was beautiful with the only rain occurring on the first day of my visit.  The hottest it got was 92 but most days were in the mid-80s.  The wind really does roar across the plain---every day.  I really enjoyed the flower and  vegetable gardens.  My aunt saw a black snake the first day I was there, but though I visited the veggie garden regularly, I could never catch a glimpse of it.

I planted a peony before I left the Northwest but though it has been almost 6 weeks, there isn't a sign of a sprout.  My counsin's peonies in OK were magnificient--like big balls of pink ice cream.  She also had Iris plants to die for.When I got back to the Northwest it was still raining and cool.  Nothing had grown in my garden except the hostas and I was so disappointed.  I need to work on my patience.

Went to Lowe's in Owasso, OK and saw a "Sunrise Rose" Lantana plant that I fell in love with.  I had never seen it before and had no idea if we had them in the Northwest.  I was delighted to find out that our Fred Meyer carries them, but they were out.  I ordered a couple, and they will come in on Wednesday.

Got a brief tour of Tulsa while I was visiting Oklahoma.  Their downtown area was a lot like Portland, OR except they are on the Arkansas River instead of the Willamette.  There were some beautiful old housing areas that reminded me of University Park in St. Louis.  I would have liked to explore some of the architectural styles if I had had more timel

Went to a little town called Collinsville, not far from Owasso.  Their downtown area is quite charming and I found the best "junk" store in the Midwest I think.  It was called Rainbow's End and was filled from floor to ceiling with collectibles, antiques and just plain junk.  Found a pair of shoes just like my grandmother used to wear (same pattern and everything) for $3.50.  I bought them and gave one to my cousin and kept one for myself.  Going to make a planter out of it and will post it when I get it finished.  Got a great old bottle, some junk jewelry and wonderful salt and pepper shakers.  Found a creamer and sugar bowl to match my salad plates that I found at GW in Tulsa and then a few stalls down in the same store, I found the matching salt and pepper shakers.  I was a happy camper.  If I had my car, I would have bought so many other things, but it gets kind of spendy to ship things back to the NW from OK.

Another highlight of my trip was when my cousin took me to an A & W that still had curb service and the kids waited on the cars in roller skates.  I know--I know--it doesn't take much to amuse me.  It is just that I am at that age where anything that reminds me of my childhood or teenage years is a fun adventure.