a weekend in Broken Bow, Oklahoma...

The kids have long wanted to go somewhere all together... and we have tried many times, but getting everyone together at the same time has proved difficult, (if not impossible) with various work and school schedules. But our daughter finally did it... (well, almost... everyone couldn't attend) but 9 of us drove down (or up as the case may be) to Broken Bow, Oklahoma. 

Rented a 4 bedroom house in the woods and spent the weekend hiking in Beaver Bend State Park, visiting some of the local attractions, roasting marshmallows over the fire pit, talking, eating, and just hanging out. 

Oldest granddaughter brought her Burnese Mountain Dog and he also enjoyed the hiking and did a little swimming while in Beaver Bend. He is definitely a sweetheart.

DH and I (at 81) don't do a lot of hiking. We do like to walk and enjoyed the hike... but it wasn't an easy one as a lot of it was uphill and the path was full of stumps, roots, and loose rocks. But we got through it OK. Only problem was that we couldn't enjoy the scenery as we had to 'watch our step' pretty closely... with a few tripups and a stop or two to catch my breath on a fallen log. But we did 6000 steps!(which is certainly more than we usually do at home).

But the company and the food was good, the place was lovely and had several game tables set up inside (which were well used), a big fireplace, and 2 firepits outside as well as a hot tub (didn't use the hot tub as it was pretty cool outside 40-60's).

Only scare we had was Saturday morning around 6 or 7 am, the fire alarm went off!! (causing me to jump out of bed and DH to jump out of the shower) Everyone got up trying to figure out what was going on. What we think happened is that it was pretty cold that early and the heaters turned on (you could smell them) and when they did, the fire alarm went off! DH was laughing saying they almost had a naked man run outside!

Food: Our daughter brought an enchilado casserole, daughter-in-law brought a blueberry/cranberry breakfast casserole, and I brought 3 desserts (peanut butter brownies, lemon squares, and blueberry muffins)... and we had various other things like deli meats and cheeses, chips and dip, etc. And of course there was plenty of sweet tea, coke, beer, etc. (and lots of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers for smores!) 

There was also a lively discussion around the fire pit as to the proper way to 'roast a marshmallow'.  Three of us were for putting that marshmallow directly into the fire and having it burn black (it has to have that special sweet burnt smell and taste). The others were for slowly holding it over the fire till it turned a very light golden color...  

A video around the fire pit:

I really don't know if the video will play here. It may be too long. But if it does, remember to click on the bottom right to get it to enlarge. And then click Esc to get out of it.

That it!

And BTW, we mailed in our ballots last week! Hoping for a miracle so that life here can get back to normal (but not exactly sure what that is since the Pandemic). However, to be honest, it seems like the whole world is having problems, not just us. So maybe it WILL take a miracle... 

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

remembering times gone by... a new phone, and more Flapjacks!

me with my sister's kids

I was texting with my niece the other day. She's the kid on the right in the pic; now a retired Pediatrician married to a Neurosurgeon.  And I sent her this pic I came across... so, thought I'd share. Yes, like the song says 'don't blink'! My sister was 10 years older than me. She got married when I was 10. So, this was when I was about 14 (I guess), playing with her first 2 kids. 

Also... today is the day I should be getting a new phone (wrote this Saturday). We shall see. Heading out there this morning and hopefully they have some in stock. My old phone has been acting up... and after diagnostics taken at the Apple store, was told I'd best just upgrade. 

Got it! But the new phones don't have the button... just the 'swipe'. Have to get used to that. New phone is pale pink... and I ordered a pale pink case from Amazon. I was going to get something like orange - so it's easy to find - black ones disappear on dark furniture. But the pale pink is fine... I'm not especially fond of orange.

I also made another batch of British Flapjacks... which we would call granola bars here. I use GF oatmeal, Lyles Golden Syrup, unsalted butter, peanut butter, vanilla, chocolate chips, light brown sugar, and a small amount of flour (1 tbsp) and kosher salt (a pinch). Works as a breakfast or snack...

my British flapjacks

That's it for this week.  Hoping this cool weather will continue and wishing you all a good week ahead!

BTW, we have been watching Anna Pigeon on Hulu USA. The episodes for the first season are done. 2nd season won't start for a while. But I really enjoy it. It's taken from Navada Barr's books about a ranger in the national parks. 

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

odd things...

This will be an odd post. But just got out of the shower and was thinking about all the odd things that happen occasionally.

Our shower head in the master bath is old... but still works fine delivering a satisfactory shoot of water that is neither too hard or too soft.  But... it has this one malfuction: It occasionally (and not consistantly) shoots off this one spray of water out of a different place that hits me right in the eye! 

It worried me when my left eye was post surgical, but now it just makes me laugh. As a crazy person that talks to inanimate objects, I usually say, "Hey! stop that!" 

I asked DH today if it gets him too...or it just after me (he is 6 ft and perhaps it wouldn't hit him in the eye). But he said yes, it gets him too. Makes me wonder if AI is already playing with us - certainly not going to give it control over my house! - unless it has already taken control without my permission - (kidding - I hope?).

But other odd things happen on occasion that make you wonder. Things disappear for a while... and then turn up (and not in odd places but where they were supposed to be, but weren't when we needed them). Songs or tunes from years ago start playing over and over again in my head for no apparent reason (that I know of).

I know that maybe this is all an age-related thing... or at least many would say it was, but in some ways, it's quite entertaining (sometimes frustrating).   

My mom lived with us when she was in her 80's and 90's and she blamed our cat for taking her stuff. We never believed it, but hey, odd things happen.

And there was the time not too long ago when our car (it's a Lincoln MKC - we call Mikey) tried to kill us. We think he (Mikey) was upset because lately we'd been using the truck to go places because there was something that was fixed on the truck and needed us to drive 100 miles before they could do the inspection. 

Anyway, one day this summer we had just left the house in Mikey and were halfway to the Senior Center in triple digit heat when all of a sudden the heater started blasting us! It got very hot very fast... and it wouldn't turn off! We opened the windows and turned around heading to Firestone as quick as we could to have it checked out. But before we got there, it stopped... and the AC came back on. It was scary as it was really hot in the car... as well as outside... (I was ready to jump out of the car). Now... does AI have car control or was it just a simple explanation that a sensor went bad (and then corrected itself?)

There are other things that have happened, but I can't think of them at the moment. Is this old age, AI, or just life...?? 

Hope you had a good weekend!

Hugs (virtually), 

Rian

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit! October 1, 2026

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

 

It's October 1st!!  AND it's 71 outside!! Also it's raining... started yesterday and still raining today. Maybe our triple digits are gone for good (for 2026 anyway). Hurray!

I know the weather may cause problems... but being cooler and raining is what we needed here. 

Take care and stay safe. That's all I have for today.

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Just a few thoughts... and a little humor

When trying to pull up my blogger 'reading list'... I noticed that the address was : https://www.blogger.com/blog/reading/6076673433792968099. 

And I thought... 'huh, I wonder if that last number is the number of my reading list in the millions that probably use blogger...' (I'm not terribly technologically adept, so maybe this is a ridiculous thought... whatever). But it could be the reason it takes a bit long to pull up the list?

a little old folk tech humor:

I love the "whatever" in the first meme. That's definitely me.... especially when I have to look up the abbreviations everyone uses these days. I recently had to look up "Ywc" sent from my 13 year old  granddaughter after I thanked her for sending me her school pic.

And I don't know about you, but lately the drugs advertised on TV also use abbreviations... so much so that I don't always know what they're trying to promote, a pill or injection for some abbreviated disease... and after they list all the side effects (and I never considered 'death' as a side effect before).

Also, I am amazed at why young people think us 'old folks' are so confused with all the new technology. They are growing up with it and accept it readily and easily while those of us who didn't even have a TV when young, are struggling to keep up... and to be honest, I think we do pretty good (although I do laugh at myself and these memes because they are funny). 

And now there's the question of AI... that's one abriviation that we all know. Do we love it or hate it? Is it a miracle or a danger? Well, in my opinion (yes, I should have used IMO - but sometimes I'm old school)... AI is both... miraculous and a definite danger.

I love being able to have info at my fingertips! This is something we never had growing up. The kids today take this for granted. If AI can solve problems so much faster than humans, I think of what a help this could be medically... and in endless other ways. 

But yes, I'm also aware of the dangers it presents. Since AI can come up with things faster than humans, it can probably also easily outsmart us in ways that could be devastating. Like Dave in the movie 2001, it may choose to go it's own way... because it's way is more logical - with no emotions involved. 

So, what's the answer? Work on ways to control it?... and strict regulations to limit how much and how fast this research can progress? Unfortunately (again IMO), we've never been too good about regulations for control (look at our continuing problems with gun control, immigration, etc.) Seems like even when we make the regulations, we don't follow through. So, chances are... AI is here to stay - and what will be, will be. 

Well, that's enough 'dooms day' thoughts for today. Maybe I should end this post with a few more memes to lighten the mood?

OK, I was going to add one more that I like... but for some reason my laptop started giving me trouble and it's taken all day for DH to fix it.

Since it started when I tried to save the quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, I'm not going to go down that road again. So... if you're interested, the quote starts with "Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future..."  (you can google it)

Hope you are all having a good weekend!  It's a 'tad' cooler today...

Hugs (virtually), 

 

Rian

Yay! Reading list is back!

Well, I don't know about everyone, but my reading list is back... however, it doesn't just come back easily. It makes a long pause (like it's thinking about it - or looking for it) and then it either tells me there are no posts or it pulls them up. Sometimes I have to do it twice... weird??

And someone (a blogger, but can't remember who) said that they had a message saying that some of the past posts from years ago will be deleted. I can see the possible need for that... but hope they give us notice so we can maybe save them elsewhere.

Now for today. It's Sunday morning and although it's been a busy week and looks like an even busier week to come, in general it's all been good. 

I had my permanent crown put on from my recent dental procedures, so I can go off 'soft' foods. And I had my very late annual eye checkup (due to the 5 eye surgeries in '26) this week. Good news! I don't have to change my glasses as I thought sure I would... as my eyesight in both eyes remains the same (mostly). Still gets a bit blurry in bad eye with tearing, but otherwise ok... and have some large floaters in both eyes that when they cross in front make the words I'm reading disappear for a few seconds (annoying, but acceptable).

Also celebrated our youngest son's birthday at a new restaurant not far from the house. It's called Wildwood. Food was good, atmosphere good, and in general, we will go back (a bit priacey - but where isn't these days). Didn't think to take pics - sorry. We did come home to cheesecake and bourbon whipping cream!

Ended the week with our dryer acting up. Clothes so hot on delicate setting that I couldn't touch them to take them out. Called vent service man and he cleaned out a ton of lint, but said even after, the dryer heated up way too hot - best to call an appliance service man - coming Monday. 

Didn't get to walk all week... too hot outside (100 plus) and too busy to get to Senior Center until Saturday. We did walk there Saturday, but no coffee in cafeteria due to Saturday bingo.

Only 10 days left in September and October will be here. From there it's Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! Can't think about that now... but looking forward to triple digits being gone.

Update on Critters: Noticed that the 2 feral cats (we call them Missy and Shadow) that hang around our back actually wait for each other to eat in the morning and evening. The food may be out... but if only one is there, he or she 'waits' for the other before going to it (something we hadn't noticed until recently). 

They seem to like each other - it's obvious that Missy likes Shadow (though she is spayed and has her ear clipped), but Shadow is a bit standoffish and doesn't show his caring in obvious ways. But he does wait for her if she's not around before eating and puts up with her wanting to be near him (on occasion). He is kind of a loner.

Shadow

Missy under fern

That's my week in a nutshell... nothing really exciting, but busy. Today I'm resting (very tired?), but all in all, it's been good. Hope yours was too. 

(I know politically things are not good, and am willing to do what I can about that... but day to day life goes on and we have to deal with that too.) 

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Cooking, sketching, a grandma's rambling, and a funny story

guacamole

steamed cabbage

Just made a new batch of guacamole to have with chips for lunch and some steamed cabbage with just butter, salt, pepper, and garlic for a side for supper tonight. Usually I add a little bacon to my steamed cabbage, but tonight it's simple - and we haven't had cabbage in a long time. I know some people don't like it, but we do (although I don't make it often). And one whole cabbage is too big for just the 2 of us, so I saved half to make some garlic cold slaw later.

Also I'm sketching/drawing again. I had to look up the difference between sketching and drawing - and I actually knew what they said before they said it - which was "a sketch is a quick rough draft used to capture an idea  and a drawing is a detailed finished piece of art". 

Well... 😏 duh...all my drawings begin with a sketch, so I still see no real difference. 

Anyway, this is my most recent bunny sketch/drawing:

Now I have to come up with something I want to sketch next...  Sometimes it takes me a while before I see something that tweaks my desire to 'make it mine' (although it will most likely be another bunny).

Oh, and DH and I just watched "A Women of Independent Means" with Sally Field on Tubi yesterday. I really enjoyed it... think DH did too, but it's kind of a woman's story.

It's our youngest son's birthday in a few days. He will be 53. Can't quite realize that. He was/is... and always will be... 'the baby' from a mother's point of view. 

DH and I were lucky with our kids, our oldest son will always be special as he was our first born - the one that made me a mother. Then our 2nd was our daughter, the one her brothers called 'the Golden child', special because of her bright red hair and being the only girl,  and then came our youngest son (when the other two were 5 and 3) special because he will always be 'the baby'.  But of course all kids are special... each have their own kind of specialness... each different in their own way.

I originally wanted 6 children (possibly 9 - can you believe?)... but after 3, thought perhaps 3 was perfect. 

Forgive me for rambling on about this... unless you're a mother you probably can't understand how your babies aging affects you. You still see them as babies and toddlers... and hard to look at them grown and not still see the child they used to be. 

And sometimes they're replicated in your grandchildren... which is a wonderful surprise. The first time I saw my first grandson, I thought, "OMG, this is my baby!" - as he looked so much like his father did when he was born.

our 3 kids in 1974

Going to end this with a funny/wierd feral story. DH was telling me about it only this morning.

He was watching one of the box turtles looking for food in the cat dishes. So he went out and put out some dry catfood. Apparently the turtle wasn't interested in the catfood and was walking away. So DH put out some pieces of chicken. 

THIS  interested the turtle enough to stop and start eating. Well, Missy (feral cat) smelled the chicken and came over to help herself. DH said the turtle actually snapped at her and she backed away. He said she did this twice and backed away each time.

But there was only one little piece of chicken left... so she tried again. This time when the turtle raised his head, she slapped him with her paw... and this time he backed away and left. 

As I have said before, backyard feral life is fascinating - if you take the time to pay attention.

Didn't mean for this post to be so long... but some days my thoughts just keep rambling on. It's Friday, so I hope you have a fun weekend!

(and if you don't get this post, I won't be surprised as blogger hasn't been notifying me of the posts I normally read lately. I have to actually search for them...??)

Hugs (virtually),

Rian