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