Okie's NW Corner

Brrrrrrr..... It was sure chilly this week. AND... it sounds like we are expecting more snow this weekend in Northwest Oklahoma with maybe 6 more inches. We still have remnants of last weeks snow. It has been so cold around here... "How cold was it?" you ask! It was so cold that the water tanks needed to the ice broken almost every day this week.

Duchess gets really energized with this Winter weather. I'm outside taking her for a walk while freezing my extremities. She is primed into high gear and wanting to run and play. Finally.... she runs her circles and finds just the right spot for taking care of business. Meanwhile, I am bundled up and shielding the biting cold from reaching my neck, hands and face.

Speaking of Duchess...

Will the Real Pug please standup! I could not resist sharing another fabulous Pug moment with Y'all this week. I had a Kodak moment last weekend and took these evening shots of Duchess while things were cold, chilly outside with 2 to 3 inches of blowing snow on the ground. I have this stone-like statute of a Pug (Stony) that a friend gave me awhile back. Duchess was lying in her bed on this particular evening around 8:30 p.m. The statute was lying just up to the outside edge of Duchess' bed -- Duchess was nose-to-nose with Stony -- with this sad sort of look across her face. It was so cute. I couldn't resist taking this photo. I don't think Duchess understands that this quiet little pug is only a statute. It is an uncanny, lifelike Pug likeness of Duchess. Duchess seems as though she is not quite sure if she wants to embrace this stone Pug... or What! Stony is a friendly little thing, but just kind of sits there never making a sound. Sometimes when this writer ties a toy to Stony's paws Duchess will get into a tug-of-war and drag the silent Pug across the floor.

While we are telling on Duchess, earlier this Friday evening I was sitting in the recliner watching the news and talking to Duchess, who was seated on the arm of the chair. I look towards this precocious Pug and ask, "What are you going to write about this week, Duchess?" Duchess just tilts her head and looks straight at me -- like she understands everything I'm saying -- gives her innocent little tilt, shrug and sighs. It's as if she is trying to tell me, "Do I have to do everything around here!" During last weekend's Winter snow, Duchess ran figure-eights in the snow -- energized and prancing around in the snow. She even nibbled a few bites of the cold snowflakes -- leaving small traces of snow on her chin and mouth. She cracks me up everyday with her Pug antics.

Paris Memories of Col. Kirkbride...

We received an email from a Paris family cousin (Stan) this week. Some of you Northwest Oklahoman's might remember Stan and his brother's, Lynn and Phil Paris, sons of Alvin and Naomi Warren Paris (both deceased). Alvin sold insurance in and around the Alva area way back when. You can read Stan's message in the Mailbag Corner. BUT... to give you a bit of a clue he was sharing some of his memories of Col. Kirkbride and his candy making (peanut brittle, old fashion taffy pulls, etc...). Stan also sent us some of his tweaked recipes for Peanut Brittle, Toffee and Grandma Mary Barbara Hurt Paris' Apple Pie. We have added these recipes to our Pastry & Sweets in our Pioneer Cookbook. Thanks, Stan, for sharing your memories with us.

Red Hat Ladies & Pilgrim Bard...

We have uploaded our photos of Alva's Red Hat Ladies (Okie Dokies) to our NW OkieLegacy Webshots for some of you might want to view, download and send an E-card to someone else. Thanks to Wayne & Kathy for sharing their mention of running into some more red hat ladies. Why they meet, what these middle-aged ladies do in their golden years is something that I have been doing since I turned middle-aged some six years ago. The Red Hat ladies deserve this time in their lives to enjoy themselves and do whatever they please... Power to them!

I see by the clock (12:50a.m., Saturday) that it is way past this writer's bedtime. BUT.... before we head out of here, I want to send you over to the Pilgrim Bard's pages of NW OkieLegacy for some more Twilight Reveries: The Rough Rider - O Harp of Mine & The Long, Long Trail - The Real Old Timers - O Calmly Sleep (America's Response to "We Shall Not Sleep").

I know some of you sportsminded readers will be tuned in to the Super Bowl this Sunday while keeping warm, cozy and stuffed nearby the fireplace. Other's might be searching the web looking for distant cousins, stories of their pioneer ancestors. While you are searching through those old photos, journals, etc... think about sharing some of those family stories with us here in The Okie Legacy. AND Remember... "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, The answer is blowin' in the wind." See you next weekend. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Howdy, Okie Dokie!...

"Jest thawt we'd let ya know we ran into one of those Red Hat ladies groups down in Santa Barbara a few weeks ago. Looked like a few mite run Ms Viola a race concerning her age. It appeared they were thoroughly enjoying themselves as they sat on the beach veranda watching the sea gulls and, what else, TALKING! Have a blessed day." -- Wayne & Kathy (misplaced Okies) View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Ames (Oklahoma) Cemetery...

"My great-great-grandparents are buried in Ames Cemetery, and my grandfather used to reside on a farm near by Ames in Major County. Some of my family still resides in Enid today.' -- Katie Stutz-Soto - Email: shadykatie@netzero.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Col. Kirkbride Memories - Peanut Brittle...

"As a kid, I used to go over to Bob Kirkbride's house, along with other kids, and watch him make candy. He would do the old fashioned taffy pull, and of course, peanut brittle, which he would pour onto a slab of marble to cool. It is by far the best peanut brittle recipe out there, and I've tried almost all of them. Of course, I've tweaked it over the years, by adding a little more butter, salt, and soda, but it still is essentially the same. Each year, for the last thirty years or so, I have made around 80 batches of candy (peanut brittle and toffee), and got quite a reputation. Fortunately, it was something I loved to do. Each year, just before Thanksgiving, I would line the kitchen with foil (guard against splatter), and end just before Christmas. Also, I haven't told you this, but I thoroughly enjoy the Paris Times (OkieLegacy)... it really brings back memories, and you do an outstanding job... what dedication!!!! I've attached the candy recipe's, and Grandmother (Mary Barbara Hurt Paris') - Apple Pie Recipe, which Dad was still making up to a year or so before he died." -- Stan Paris - Toffee & Peanut Brittle Recipe View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

P.o.W H. Hartung '47 Floral Still Life...

"I have had for some 25 years an oil painting of a floral still life, signed P.o.W. H.Hartung '47. I have always wanted to know something about the artist, his background, and if he ever painted anything else. There is no indication of the P.O.W. camp at which he painted this, so I don't know if it was in Virginia, where I live, or in Oklahoma. Do you know of any way I can find out? I would appreciate any information you can give me." -- Carl Hayes - Email: mrcarl38@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

January 26, 2004, , according to Keynote Systems Inc...

Fast-spreading "My Doom" worm slowed performance of the top 40 U.S. business Web sites "JANUARY 27, 2004 ( IDG NEWS SERVICE ) - A new e-mail worm is spreading rapidly on the Internet, clogging e-mail servers and staging an attack on the Web site of Unix vendor The SCO Group Inc., antivirus software vendors said. The worm surfaced yesterday and has been given several names by antivirus software vendors, including Mydoom, Novarg and Mimail.R (see story). Experts disagreed about the worm's payload but said it's spreading faster than Sobig-F, the worm that topped the charts for the most widespread e-mail worm last year....." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

A Man Named Wiley...

a man named Wiley, but do not know about his last name. As a 6-year old child I rode in Wiley's stake-bed truck, many times at high rates of speed, down the dirt road south of Tahlequah, but northwest of Tailholt. We would be walking down the dirt road, visiting many different friends in the area... walking and walking, and walking. He was so nice to stop. This was in 1947, and I would guess that his age was around 25-years to 30-years, or so... but as a 6-year-old, everyone looked old to me. Now I am (old). Read my previous comments about the location of the real Tailholt, and is not Chester." -- C. DeWayne Fletcher - Email: cdfletch@fletchworks.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Is There Another Tailholt (Oklahoma)?...

"First to question some information of your write-ins about Chester, Oklahoma's (Tailholt), and this may be true, but I lived as a 6-year-old boy, 1947, in the real Tailholt, and it was not in Northwestern, but Northeastern, between Stillwell and Tahlequah, and south of Titanic, halfway toward Gore, Oklahoma. It has been there as Tailholt long before I was born, in 1941. This community was very much alive and well back in 1947, with a Swepton's filling station and food store, one Methodist church north of the junction, and my mother and father's Four Square Gospel church, right at this junction, of farm to market roads of E0813, D0818, and N4590. I am writing my life's book, and have many stories to tell about this area, and the people, and about Tahlequah, and about the great indians of the region, including Houston B. Tee Hee, that I, as a child, help him and his wife with their barnyard duties at their mansion. I visited in the home and spoke many times to the great man, Houston, and looked at many of his law books. I am currently at home on vacation, writing my book, because I need to get this information out as soon as possible, for a possible movie. But first, I need this book written, well and accurate." -- C. DeWayne Fletcher, Highlands Ranch Colorado (Denver) - Email: cdfletch@fletchworks.com - Homepage View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Former Binger, Caddo County Okie...

"Hi! I am originally from Binger, in Caddo Co., and would love to get your weekly issues. I now live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts." -- Bobby View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Event's at Cain's Ballroom...

"Upcoming Events at the Cain's include: Saturday, January 31st, 2004 - The Bushwhacker Ball -- Wednesday, February 4th, 2004 - Yonder Mountain String Band live in concert. Tickets are available at all Albertson's, Starship Records and Tapes, www.musictoday.com, www.startickets.com, at the Cain's box office or by calling 918-584-2306 -- Thursday, February 12th, 2004 - Puddle of Mudd live in concert -- Wednesday, February 18th, 2004 - Galactic Live in concert with Drums and Tuba opening -- Tickets are available at all Albertson's, Starship Records and Tapes, www.musictoday.com, www.startickets.com, at the Cain's box office or by calling 918-584-2306 -- Tuesday, February 24th, 2004 - A.F.I. live in concert... www.dcfconcerts.com -- Friday and Saturday, March 5th and 6th, 2004 - Annual Bob Will's Birthday Bash Celebration. -- Fri. - The Round-Up Boys open the show -- Sat. - Eddie McAlvain opens the show -- Tickets are available at all Albertson's, Starship Records and Tapes, www.startickets.com, at the Cain's box office or by calling 918-584-2306. -- Saturday, March 13th, 2004 - The Crystal Method live in concert... www.dcfconcerts.com - Thursday, March 18th, 2004 - Merle Haggard live in concert. -- Tickets are available at all Albertson's, Starship Records and Tapes, www.startickets.com, at the Cain's box office or by calling 918-584-2306. -- Friday, March 26th, 2004 - Ray Price live in concert. -- Tuesday, March 30th, 2004 - Reverend Horton Heat live in concert... Tickets are only $5 in advance and are only available at Cain's box office, Starship Records and Tapes, or by calling 918-584-2306. -- Friday, April 2nd, 2004 - Leon Russell Birthday Bash. Tickets go on sale on February 16th, 2004 and will be available at all Albertson's, Starship Records and Tapes, www.startickets.com, at the Cain's box office or by calling 918-584-2306. More concerts are listed on our website, so for more information, please check out: www.cainsballroom.com" View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Modern Day Mayberry - Stonewall, Oklahoma...

"Southeastern Oklahoma's best kept secret for hunting supplies is Carter Gun and Supply in downtown Stonewall. This is one of the few small town America town's where you can make a U-turn on Main Street and not get a ticket in our modern day Mayberry." -- Greg Carter - Email: tamben4505@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Live This Way -- Desiderata...

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons,they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. -- written by Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952. For more on Max, ClickHere." -- Steve View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pine Valley (Oklahoma)...

"I lived in Pine Valley from May, 1938 till February, 1941. My father, Fred Shelton, was sawmill foreman then." -- Calvin W. Shelton - Email: sheltoncw@cnbcom.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Dacoma (Oklahoma) - Wonderful Little Town...

"I happen to know a gentlemen by the name of Jim Leslie who lives in Dacoma -- one of the nicest men I have ever met -- It is a wonderful little town with lots of history." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

If Ye Break Faith - We Shall Not Sleep...

If Ye Break Faith - We Shall Not Sleep -- " It was April, 1915 in the trenches near Ypres, Belgium that saw some of the heaviest fighting of the Great War. One of Dr. John McCrae's closest friends was killed in the slaughter that went on day after terrible day. The doctor and those who could be spared from the grim business of battle buried him in a humble grave with a simple wooden cross. Poppies already bloomed between the crosses, the countless crosses. The next day, the doctor from the quiet provincial city of Guelph in distant Canada wrote his immortal 15 lines about his friend, and the hundreds of wounded and dead he was surrounded with daily. He had always written poetry, but these words poured out with simple elegance and became chiselled on the marble walls of history. His second last poem "In Flanders Fields" was published Dec. 8, 1915 in the famous British magazine Punch....." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

In Flanders Fields...

"In Flanders Fields -- written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) - Canadian Army --- IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place, and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields." -- For MORE history of the making of Dr. McCrae's poem Click HERE. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Photo Rdo - 1906 Austin Senators Pic...

"After reading last week's OkieLegacy, I clicked onto the old Austin Senators pic. It is a great photo, but I was somewhat distressed at its condition. So I took the liberty of copying it onto a photo program on my computer and re-working it. As you can see, I did a fair job on just about everyone but your grandpa Will, on whom I had to fashion a hat of sorts. Don't worry, I'll respect your rights to the photo, just wanted to do something for you in return for all of the fine work you do on your website. Hope you like it." -- Jim View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe