Quilting with Grandmother Arwood
Train Ride with Aunt Jewell - Tulsa, OK to Joplin, MO
Quail Hunting with Dad - Newton County, Missouri
Circus Comes to Tulsa, OK
Gilcrease Art Museum, Tulsa, OK
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday Excursions with My Dad - continued
Our journey continued as we moved from downtown to the hills north of town. We visited Dad's friends who were his guides and teachers in gardening. They would discuss all the various forms for raising flowers and plants. Dad would learn about propagating, dividing, separating, cuttings and seedlings. When the friends began to know me I could get up really close and watch what they were showing him and even ask questions. I really tried to absorb all of the information. I could tell these were really important skills to learn.
In case you had an idea that I was close to being extra good, please discount that idea. I got called for running on the damp rocks and sidewalks; for talking way too much; for interrupting others and just being too excited. But I loved every minute of the time spent with these gardening friends and mentors of my Dad.
Some of his friends had greenhouses attached to their house; a few even had real glass greenhouses with the semi-frosted glass windows that cranked in and out. I got to prowl through all of them. I am still waiting for my first greenhouse but it looks like that will have to happen in the next life.
Other friends had houses on the hills in the woods that were very interesting too. There would be interesting rock gardens with pretty petite flowers, ferns and other green plants. There would be rocks and water falls and sometimes little fishes. There was no way we could create that at our home with our flat land. But still I enjoyed seeing their gardens and how they kept changing from week to week.
Sometimes I would leave with a tiny starter to plant in my garden. Sometimes I would leave with a plant ready to bloom that could be put in my garden. Sometimes my prize possession would be a few flowers for my Mom. And, sometimes I just had a terrific time with my Dad's friends who were willing to teach me and send me on the path to gardening. Even today, I love to sit in my garden and share the beauty of what we have planted and the world surrounding us. A year ago we had Mike build planter boxes that are two feet high and surround the perimeter of our back yard. It is located on the West and gets the full blast of the afternoon sun as well as the cold and wet winds from the North and the South. It is okay. Our Iris and our Oriental Lilies as well as the Rudbeckia plants do really well and we enjoy all of them.
Today I still find gardening good for the body and great for the soul.
In case you had an idea that I was close to being extra good, please discount that idea. I got called for running on the damp rocks and sidewalks; for talking way too much; for interrupting others and just being too excited. But I loved every minute of the time spent with these gardening friends and mentors of my Dad.
Some of his friends had greenhouses attached to their house; a few even had real glass greenhouses with the semi-frosted glass windows that cranked in and out. I got to prowl through all of them. I am still waiting for my first greenhouse but it looks like that will have to happen in the next life.
Other friends had houses on the hills in the woods that were very interesting too. There would be interesting rock gardens with pretty petite flowers, ferns and other green plants. There would be rocks and water falls and sometimes little fishes. There was no way we could create that at our home with our flat land. But still I enjoyed seeing their gardens and how they kept changing from week to week.
Sometimes I would leave with a tiny starter to plant in my garden. Sometimes I would leave with a plant ready to bloom that could be put in my garden. Sometimes my prize possession would be a few flowers for my Mom. And, sometimes I just had a terrific time with my Dad's friends who were willing to teach me and send me on the path to gardening. Even today, I love to sit in my garden and share the beauty of what we have planted and the world surrounding us. A year ago we had Mike build planter boxes that are two feet high and surround the perimeter of our back yard. It is located on the West and gets the full blast of the afternoon sun as well as the cold and wet winds from the North and the South. It is okay. Our Iris and our Oriental Lilies as well as the Rudbeckia plants do really well and we enjoy all of them.
Today I still find gardening good for the body and great for the soul.
Saturday Excursions with My Dad - part one
Beginning about 1937, on Saturday mornings I wanted to go with Dad when he pulled out his car keys. Many times I got my wish. After breakfast we would take off on his errands. Usually, he would make his rounds by the hospitals before heading down town. That meant stops at the Hillcrest Memorial Hospital and St. John's Hospital. Sometimes we would also visit the VA hospital.
Children were not allowed in hospitals as visitors. I would stay in the car and play with my toys or color in my books.
Afterwards, we would continue downtown to the Medical Arts Building where Dad had an office. I was fascinated by the mail chute which was a glass chute with brass fittings and located between the two elevators. You could drop a letter in the slot and it would free fall to the brass postal box on the main floor where the postman would collect the letters to send them on their way. Many times I would mail the letter and try to beat it to the drop box by using the elevator. I was never successful.
After Dad checked his office we would venture down to the coffee shop on the first floor which was great with me. I am allowed to sit at the counter very close to the Soda Bar. There I can watch the preparation for a "real" Cherry Coke using the coca-cola syrup, the soda water, and real cherry syrup. Then, it is topped off with a large maraschino cherry and a spoonful of whipped sweet cream. This drink is far better than anything in a glass bottle. Sometimes, I would get a piece of whole wheat toast to go with it.
The owners of the coffee shop are Stan & Ida Snodgrass. We would visit with them and catch up on their family news. Dad would move to other tables to visit with all of his friends. After a couple of cigarettes, we were on our way for the rest of our tour.
Note: the postcards are copied from
http://www.familyoldphotos.com/5c/OKcoll/tulsa.htm
Hillcrest Memorial Hospital - about 1930
St. John's Hosptial - about 1930
Children were not allowed in hospitals as visitors. I would stay in the car and play with my toys or color in my books.
Afterwards, we would continue downtown to the Medical Arts Building where Dad had an office. I was fascinated by the mail chute which was a glass chute with brass fittings and located between the two elevators. You could drop a letter in the slot and it would free fall to the brass postal box on the main floor where the postman would collect the letters to send them on their way. Many times I would mail the letter and try to beat it to the drop box by using the elevator. I was never successful.
After Dad checked his office we would venture down to the coffee shop on the first floor which was great with me. I am allowed to sit at the counter very close to the Soda Bar. There I can watch the preparation for a "real" Cherry Coke using the coca-cola syrup, the soda water, and real cherry syrup. Then, it is topped off with a large maraschino cherry and a spoonful of whipped sweet cream. This drink is far better than anything in a glass bottle. Sometimes, I would get a piece of whole wheat toast to go with it.
The owners of the coffee shop are Stan & Ida Snodgrass. We would visit with them and catch up on their family news. Dad would move to other tables to visit with all of his friends. After a couple of cigarettes, we were on our way for the rest of our tour.
Note: the postcards are copied from
http://www.familyoldphotos.com/5c/OKcoll/tulsa.htm
Friday, October 23, 2009
Time Passes Quickly
Again, I have an urge to write. It has been a very rough year for both my husband and myself. Our physical efforts and desires do not keep up with our interests and ideas.
The recovery from back surgery was speedy and the results are very good. For a while I even was standing as straight as a board. How wonderful and exciting. I have not been able to increase my upper body strength fast enough and so by mid summer slumping was trying hard to take over. I attribute a lot to my body recovering from being away from the Remicade infusions and have to restart that association.
However, there were early mornings that were enjoyable and I could sit in the garden and rejoice in all its glory. The iris blooms were as large as my hands when they were spread as wide as they could be stretched. It is a joy for me to sit there and work (piddle) with my flowers. I love to clean and clear the debris from around each clump. I talk with them and enjoy their colors and perfume. Our back yard is beautiful. In June the iris were gone but the yard was full of blooming Rudbeckia and enormous Oriental Lilies. Frank has done a remarkable job on our grass and we thoroughly enjoy the results that it brings to the view. As the weather got warmer and than, hotter, I moved back inside until mid September.
Working frequently in September we have the yard in great shape for the Fall rains and colder weather that will be here after Thanksgiving. The iris are trimmed to about 6 inches so they will be well prepared to brave the winter storms, especially the strong northern winds. The same is true for the day lilies. Frank has cleared the daffodils and tulips of their dead stalks. We dressed them with some Fall fertilizer and they are tucked under a layer of mulch for the winter. Hopefully it is enough that they will not try to bloom too early.
With regrets we have canceled our Fall cruise to the southern Caribbean islands. Physically I was not able to make the trip even if we stayed aboard the ship the entire time. We were both disappointed but we have plenty here that we enjoy doing together within our own home. It has been difficult preparing meals everyday but I am getting stronger and hopefully that will change. We have many interests and readings we want to continue plus we enjoy being with each other. There are many days that there just isn't enough time. We fall into bed and then start all over the next day.
We miss each of you and wished we were closer; but, for this time, that is the way it is. Just want you to know that you are often in our prayers and our thoughts.
The recovery from back surgery was speedy and the results are very good. For a while I even was standing as straight as a board. How wonderful and exciting. I have not been able to increase my upper body strength fast enough and so by mid summer slumping was trying hard to take over. I attribute a lot to my body recovering from being away from the Remicade infusions and have to restart that association.
However, there were early mornings that were enjoyable and I could sit in the garden and rejoice in all its glory. The iris blooms were as large as my hands when they were spread as wide as they could be stretched. It is a joy for me to sit there and work (piddle) with my flowers. I love to clean and clear the debris from around each clump. I talk with them and enjoy their colors and perfume. Our back yard is beautiful. In June the iris were gone but the yard was full of blooming Rudbeckia and enormous Oriental Lilies. Frank has done a remarkable job on our grass and we thoroughly enjoy the results that it brings to the view. As the weather got warmer and than, hotter, I moved back inside until mid September.
Working frequently in September we have the yard in great shape for the Fall rains and colder weather that will be here after Thanksgiving. The iris are trimmed to about 6 inches so they will be well prepared to brave the winter storms, especially the strong northern winds. The same is true for the day lilies. Frank has cleared the daffodils and tulips of their dead stalks. We dressed them with some Fall fertilizer and they are tucked under a layer of mulch for the winter. Hopefully it is enough that they will not try to bloom too early.
With regrets we have canceled our Fall cruise to the southern Caribbean islands. Physically I was not able to make the trip even if we stayed aboard the ship the entire time. We were both disappointed but we have plenty here that we enjoy doing together within our own home. It has been difficult preparing meals everyday but I am getting stronger and hopefully that will change. We have many interests and readings we want to continue plus we enjoy being with each other. There are many days that there just isn't enough time. We fall into bed and then start all over the next day.
We miss each of you and wished we were closer; but, for this time, that is the way it is. Just want you to know that you are often in our prayers and our thoughts.
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