Traveling Back To SW Colorado

The way things are starting out this week, weatherwise, I was accused of bringing cold weather from the Colorado Rockies. So... that's why this NW Okie headed back to SW Colorado Thursday of this week. My itchy eyes and panting pugsters (Pugs) will be thankful for that move.

While most of Oklahoma was under thunderstorm and tornado watches, we made our trek Westward through the panhandle, Kansas to SW Colorado by way of hwy 160. Click HERE for OkieLegacy (YouTube.com) movie file of the trip through LaVeta Pass, Colorado along hwy 160.

It took us about 12 hours driving time from around 7:15, thursday morning, driving through fog and rain through the Oklahoma panhandle and southwestern Kansas, following hwy 160 to Springfield, Colorado, which we reached around noon, Thursday, as we took a much needed break for lunch and other pit stops. Boy! Was it windy and chilly!

After the Springfield, Colorado break we headed West along hwy 160 towards Trinidad and caught up to some windy, blowing fine snow that followed us up I25 to the Walsenberg, Colorado exit to connect to hwy 160 that runs through the LaVeta Pass area, Fort Garland and other little communities located and placed twenty-some miles apart.

By the time we reached a few miles East of Alamosa, Colorado the clouds had parted and the sun was beginning to shine and followed us all the way towards Del Norte, Monte Vista, South Fork and up through Wolf Creek Pass to the other side of the rocky divide to Pagosa Springs and onto Bayfield, Colorado. We finally turned into our driveway around 6:30 PM, Thursday evening, MDT, before dark over took the daylight hours.

These long one day trips can be hard on the backside and tiring. The next couple of days this NW Okie didn't even want to see the inside of a vehicle and tended to be a bit lazy as she rested up from the trip back to Colorado.

It was a bit chilly here the last couple of days, but the weather says we are in for a warming trend next week when the high front settles in this area. I already miss watching my horses trotting in the pasture and coming to the edge of the fence in the early mornings hours to see if we are up and preparing to feed them.

BUT... I hear that we did bring some much needed moisture to the state on Wednesday through Friday. We didn't mean to bring so much flooding and tornado warning, though, to those parts in the southern, central and eastern parts of the state. Sorry about that.
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Birthday Wishes For Bud Clark

Hey, Bud! If Lovina prints this out for you to read, Terry and Floyd send their birthday wishes to you.

Terry Smith says, "A belated happy birthday, Bud! I don't know if you remember me and my buddy, Floyd Thompson, but we worked for Gerald and Lawrence Longhurst back in the mid sixties. Always enjoyed working around you in those days."

Floyd Thompson says, "Let me as well say Happy Birthday. Yes, Bud, you were and probably still are a gem. I also loved to hear you talk!"

For those of you who tried to watch the video of Bud's Birthday Bash on our OkieLegacy Mac Site, last week it was uploaded late in the evening. You can now view it on our Mac Site and our YouTube Site.

Terry & Floyd, Bud does remember you! He says Terry used to spend his time sketching great works of art of combines. He also mentioned some other things about you both, but I won't mention those here. ;-)
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Odds & Ends

One of our readers is quoted as saying, "Hum... Interesting deveopment here. First horses, what is next to be moved to Oklahoma? You?"

In response to that statement, "Just wait and see what develops!"

David is in the process of moving some fencing pipe from Colorado to Fairvalley, Oklahoma the next few days. The Pugs and I are hanging back in SW Colorado during this trip.

Mid-week, Wednesday during the rain, I received my E. Hollen Castle on the Hill plate.

NOW... I need to collect some more of Elizabeth Hollen's painted china. Like the Woods County Courthouse plate.

What other plates did E. Hollen paint? Let us know if you know. Thanks!

Well! SW Colorado gas prices have risen to $3.45.9 this week for regular unleaded. What is it doing in your neck of the woods?
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Happy Birthday, Ernest Martin

Here is wishing a southern Oklahoman, the honorable retired Oklahoma State Senator Ernest Martin, a Happy Birthday!

Click the following link to read Ernest's Father Legacy.



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WWII Nazi POW Camp of Broken Arrow, OK

"It's actually in Bixby. Go down 131st street towards 129th, take a left at the stop sign. Follow the road until you come to where you can only go right. Follow that road." juckfesus420@yahoo.com - OkieLegacy Comment
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Farmers Elevator & Gas Prices of '39

"It seems that the second product purchased is kero meaning kerosine. It was not unusual for gas stations to sell kerosine. I believe that this is what is itemized on the sales slip of the Co-op." -- Jim Bradley

Randy Sawatzky says "The product on the coop sales slip might be diesel. It would have been common to purchase gas, diesel and oil at the same time."
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Growing Up With Oklahoma Birds

We are in the process of taking down Kenneth Updike's stories and ramblings of "Growing Up In Oklahoma" because Kenneth asked us, "To remove all of my previous writings to you about my Ramblins. Personal stories that I told you and your readers. My Son has had all of my writings, and notes copyrighted so that we can put them in a book or booklet. His idea. I really have no objections to this, but he insists we can be viewed by more people. I leave it up to him. Thanks for your help in the past, and I still read your Okie Legacy nearly every week."

If you find some of Kenneth's Ramblings that I have missed, Please email me the link with Vol. and Iss. numbers so that this NW Okie can remove them. Thanks for your help!
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Alva Coop Gas prices of '55

"Many times I drove into the Alva Co-Op station and bought a quarter's worth of gas... and they always wrote me out a receipt!" -- Gary Tanner - Email: gdt1253@hotmail.com
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Find A Grave - Alva, OK Cemetery

"Would appreciate a photo of a couple graves in the Alva, Oklahoma Cemetery. Alexander Cellan died 13 July 1901. Mrs Alex Cellan died 1906. Also a picture of the Cemetery if available." -- Ethel - Email: paulsacker@centurytel.net

Gene says, "How about findagrave.com. There is a picture of the cemetery there. You can add the names to the list and request a photo."
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Gas Prices in Perry, OK

"Yesterday our prices for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline dropped back down to $3.19.9 (from a high of $3.26.9). Also, Perry has received 2-1/2 inches of rain this week (other parts of Oklahoma have received as much as 7" during the same period) and two small tornados have touched down north of town but not too much damage. Last night's news and weather predicted a dry, warmer period for the next several days. And of course since this is, after all, Oklahoma; after all that rain (and flooding in many towns), there was a large dust storm in our area yesterday, and since dust is one of the things I'm allergic to, I've been suffering from stuffy nose and weepy eyes today (Friday 4/ll/08)." -- Roy K.
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Ten Commandments for Pets

"Okay, this is DEFINITELY a kleenex one! But... a wonderful group of "commandments". With love to you and my vows to abide by these commandments. Get a Kleenex ready!

Ten Commandments for a Responsible Pet Owner as dictated by the pet:
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand .... and yet I choose not to bite you or hurt you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, or I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too will grow old.

10. On the difficult journey.... on the ultimate difficult journey, please go with me. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there ... because I love you so." -- Karel
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Clothesline Poem

"After reading my article in your latest Legacy, someone sent me this little tid-bit about clothes lines. I thought is quite true and appropiate. I dont know who wrote the poem, so I cant give credit. (Midi playing "Black and Blue")." -- Kenneth

The Clothes Line, Remember
The clothes line....a dead give away. Do the kids today even know what a clothes line is? For all of us who are older, this will bring back the memories.

THE BASIC RULES
1. You had to wash the clothes line before hanging any clothes. Walk the length of each line with a damp cloth around the line.

2. You had to hang the clothes in a certain order and always hang whites with whites and hang them first.

3. You never hung a shirt by the shoulders, always by the tail. What would the neighbors think?

4. Wash day on a Monday ... never hang clothes on the weekend or Sunday for heaven's sake!

5. Hang the sheets and towels on the outside lines so you could hide your 'unmentionables' in the middle.

6. It didn't matter if it was sub zero weather ... clothes

7. Always gather the clothes pins when taking down dry clothes. Pins left on the line was 'tacky'.

8. If you were efficient, you would line the clothes up so that each item did not need two clothes pins, but shared one of the clothes pins with the next washed item.

9. Clothes off of the line before dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes basket and ready to be ironed.

10. IRONED?????????? Well, that's a whole other subject.

A POEM
A clothes line was a news forecast
To neighbors passing by.
There were no secrets you could keep
When clothes were hung to dry.
It also was a friendly link
For neighbors always knew
If company had stopped on by
To spend a night or two.
For then you'd see the "fancy sheets"
And towels upon the line;
You'd see the "company table cloths"
With intricate design.
The line announced a baby's birth
To folks who lived inside
As brand new infant clothes were hung
So carefully with pride.
The ages of the children could
So readily be known
By watching how the sizes changed
You'd know how much they'd grown.
It also told when illness struck,
As extra sheets were hung;
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,
Haphazardly were strung.
It said, "Gone on vacation now"
When lines hung limp and bare.
It told, "We're back!" when full lines sagged
With not an inch to spare.
New folks in town were scorned upon
If wash was dingy gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their brows,
And looked the other way.
But clotheslines now are of the past
For dryers make work less.
Now what goes on inside a home
Is anybody's guess.
I really miss that way of life.
It was a friendly sign
When neighbors knew each other best
By what hung on the line!"
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CELLAN, James Alexander & Elizabeth Ann (PEARSON)

Alva, Oklahoma's history book, First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma, pages 309-310, gives this history of James Alexander Cellan:

James Alexander was born November 14, 1808, 1:30 p.m., Saturday in County Denogal, Ireland. He was a short and stubby man, and was a Cumberland Presbyterian.

James came to America at the age of 14 years with his widowed mother. They landed at Philadelpia, Pennsylvania. The next year they went back to Ireland. He left his mother there and worked his way across as a cabin boy to New York City.

At the age of 19 he was married to Jane Russell and to this union three children were born: