Oakie & Duchess' SW Corner

Pioneers, Peasants, Peanuts and Christmas holidays... What do they have in common? We are still researching those possibilities for future items of interest. By the way, did you all try out the Texoma Peanut Company of Madill, Oklahoma -- Order Your Oklahoma Peanuts Today! We ordered some Raw peanuts from them last Friday or was it Saturday. Anyway, it takes about 5 to 6 working days for shipping. We received our order yesterday just in time to try them out in the recipe that our cousin Stan Paris sent us a few months back. You can check out that Peanut Brittle recipe in our ParisTimes Pioneers Cookbook - Sweets Section.

A year sure does past quickly around here, doesn't it. In two weeks -- on a Saturday, no less, Christmas begins for the most part. BUT... we only have three (3) weeks left of 2004. What can we do to make the most of it and get ready for the great things that 2005 promises to bring? Is it time to reflect back at where we've been and make adjustments before we head on into the future? You know.... New Year Resolutions and those kind of things! OR... do we just enjoy each day as it comes and have faith in what we conjer up for our own futures -- Trusting that it doesn't affect others in a negative, bad way. Just a little food for thought.

A Blanket of Snow Falls... The valleys and mountains in southwest Colorado got a blanket of snow last weekend. It made some skiers happy. We believe it was last Sunday that we awoke to two-inches of that white, fluffy, wet stuff covering the grounds, cars and pastures here in the valley of SW Colorado. BUT... the higher elevations got more. We did get a few more snow scenes and wildlife shots for those of you who like to look at the snow, but don't like to be in it. We have been seeing small herds of deer and wild turkeys grazing in our front yard/pasture this week. Most of the week was cold, cloudy with a warming showing up on Thursday afternoon and reaching near 50 degrees. We had most of our snow until then... when the melting began. AND... it's continuing to melt through the weekend up here.

Our sources tell us that Oklahoma had a dry week that helped dry up the muddy, soggy ground and roads. AND... the Winter wheat is looking good. I hear it was in the mid to upper 60's several days this week, but by Friday the temps are droppin in some places.

Expecting NEW Birth in horse family... It was last January 11, 2004 that our three-year-old mare, Cassie, was flirting and messing around in the corral with the stud, Hustler. If we counted right, this weekend, December 11, 2004, Cassie should be bearing her first offspring out at Clark's horse farm. We haven't heard any news as of this Saturday morning, but will kept you posted. I did hear from my Oklahoma sources that the weather in Oklahoma promises to be in the 60s and nice, though.

What Else Happened This Week?...

1926 NSTC Seniors... We connected once again with some more family members of a couple of 1926 Senior graduates of Northwestern State Teachers College. It concerns Beckham & Channel. To be more specific... Wycliff G. "Wick" Beckham and Gladys Channel Beckham.

63 Years Ago... Mid-week we past the 63rd anniversary of Japan's surprised raid on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. We checked back to see where our Uncle Bob's (McGill) WWII Timeline placed him during this time. On 7 Dec. 1941 -- Pearl Harbor was bombed when Japan surprised Pearl Harbor. Then on 8 Dec. 1941 -- the USA declared War on Japan. It was Dec 19, 1941 -- Uncle Bob had sent his mother (Constance) an air-mail letter. Bob was on the train from Leesville (Louisiana) headed west towards San Francisco and passing through New Mexico at the time. He gave Constance instructions about his car, keys, insurance, etc that he left in Leesville with a Lt. Robert Kalbfell at 753 tk bn. Bob's brother, Merle (a.k.a Gene), or whoever goes down after the car in Leesville needed to call the post and ask for Kalbfell at 179 before 4:00p.m. or 383 after 4:00p.m. Kalbfell will tell him what to do. As to New Mexico, when he traveled thru in his officers pullman car, he wondered where the living are... it was really the wide and open spaces. He expected to be in California by morning. He wrote in letter, ".....doubted very seriously if we will have any time off before sailing time but if we do, I expect to go to San Francisco and spend a couple of days. .....getting tired of riding in pullman car and needing to get up and walk around." That was after the time when the train went through Oklahoma along the way from Louisiana that Uncle Bob's father, WJ McGill, tried hard to meet Bob. Bob was rerouted and didn't come through Alva. This next date... sometime in December 1941, WJ got a cable from Hawaii telling him Bob got there Okay. It was Christmas time in Hawaii that found Uncle Bob sending this V-Mail Christmas card dated 25 Dec 1941 to his mother, Mrs. WJ McGill, in Alva, Oklahoma. Uncle Bob's address back then was listed as -- Lt. Robert L. McGill, 0389481, 193 Tank Bn APO 957. He signed it, "Mele Kalikimaka" Merry Christmas. (No date on V-Mail, but think it fits in here on the timeline)

Back to Now... Mid-week, 7 December 2004, finds deer grazing in our yard/pasture here in SW Colorado. Before we head out of here for the weekend, we would like to leave you with these thoughts of a curious nature... What do Pioneers, Peasants and Peanuts have in common? Why I asked was because we are working on another extension of our OkieLegacy sites over at Prairie Pioneer News which is one of those "Coming Soon" type of websites. Are you curious yet as to what will develop? .... LOL... as some might say! Stick around and Help us develop this future website.

See Y'all next Saturday evening with more Okie Legacies! ~~ Linda "oaKie" & Duchess ~~ View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Beckham & 1926 NSTC Ranger Yearbook

"I am the son of Wick (Wycliff G.) Beckham and Gladys Channel (Beckham) both listed in the 1926 Northwestern State Teachers' College, Alva, Oklahoma yearbook." -- Dwight Beckham - Email: dwighthelen@mygalaxyexpress.com

Editors Note: I see that there was a Gladys Beckham, A.B. degree, Alva, OK, a Senior in '26 majoring in English, History and in the Philerian Debate Club (PDC) in '22 & '23?  It shows Wycliff G. Beckham, B. S., Alva, OK, with a Social Science, History; In PDC (Philerian Debate Club)  and Band -- also a Senior.   The 1926 yearbook also mentions that Wick Beckham had a patent pending on bell bottom pants that ring when his wife goes thru them.  We would love to know what the Ranger yearbook meant by that statement. Any clues out there? View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Coyle, Oklahoma Researcher

"To the author of this beautiful history and the great-granddaughter of the Wandells. I commend you for this fine bit of history and the marvellous tribute to your grandparents and great-grandparents.

You see, I am very interested in Coyle, for I was born there in 1931. My grandparents were John Wallace Brookman and wife Dora. He was also postmaster there from 1923 to 1933, I believe. He also owned and operated the telephone exchange.

I am sure that our ancestors knew each other well, and Granddad Brookman was very active in the Methodist church. You might also be interested to know that I am currently writing a Christian novel that has Coyle as its principal setting.

Consequently I have been doing some research on the town especially from 1920 to 1935. Once again, thank you so much for your contribution to the legacy of a great and once-thriving American town. Thanks for forwarding a copy to Renee Carroll-Sampson (the author of the Wandell & Coyle Legacy).  I thought it quite a coincidence that I should encounter this piece.  I shall await her response.  " -- Stan Meek - Email: smeek@junct.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Noah's Ark #2

"Don't you imagine that Noah's Ark #1 was the original (the one Noah built)? Just an idea. Seems like the logical thing any decent God fearing restaurant owner would do. I mean anyone would know right away it couldn't be Noah's Ark. And who would want to eat there if it were - with all the animals." -- David H. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Four Canyon Preserve

"Have you heard about this place at The Nature Conservancy website? Partnership Creates Four Canyon Preserve... Following an exhaustive, three-year scientific analysis of wildlife needs in western Oklahoma, The Nature Conservancy forged a partnership with state and federal wildlife managers to create the Four Canyon Preserve. Located along the Canadian River in Ellis County, this 3,400-acre grassland represents classic western Oklahoma prairies. The area harbors federally endangered least terns, federally threatened Arkansas River shiners and imperiled lesser prairie chickens. Four Canyon is the first preserve owned and managed by the Conservancy in the Southern Shortgrass Prairie Ecoregion. This former ranch was purchased from a willing landowner who maintained it in its native and unbroken condition for more than 50 years. The project received partial grant funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Species Recovery Land Acquisition Program, and the state wildlife department is helping establish a controlled-access hunting program at the preserve to control deer, quail and turkey populations..... READ MORE ABOUT IT!" -- Steve View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

PEARL HARBOR ATTACK - 1941 PACIFIC [Prelude23]

PEARL HARBOR ATTACK - 1941 PACIFIC [Prelude23] Where Japanese attack would take place 11:30am, Dec., 1943 release of the Movietone newsreel Pearl Harbor - Now It creation of the attack, December 7. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Elk Sightings in SW Colorado

"Hi everyone!, This was Jack's excitement for the day! Eleven huge bulls in the field behind the house. We headed up to the canal and got a couple of pix, but they spooked. Elk from Deck
Elk Leaving
Elk Scared
Elk" -- Ann View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Knowledge Test

How observant are you?

This is based on U. S. & CDN info, so use both sides of your brain. This can be more difficult than it looks - it just shows how little most of us really see! There are 27 questions about things we see every day or have known about all our lives. How many can you get right?

These little simple questions are harder than you think - - it just shows you how little we pay attention to the common place things of life. Put your thinking caps on. Mind teasers of COMMON KNOWLEDGE. No cheating! No looking around! No using anything on or in your desk or computer! Can you beat 20? (The average is 7).

Write down your answers and check answers. We will put answers in next week's newsletter. If you want, email me - paristimes@earthlink.net - your answers and I will send you the answers.

LET'S JUST SEE HOW OBSERVANT YOU REALLY ARE:
1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?
2. How many states are there? (Don't laugh, some people don't know)
3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them?
6. When you walk does your left arm swing with your right or  left leg?
7. How many matches are in a standard pack?
8. On the United States flag is the top stripe red or white?
9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?
11. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?
12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?
13. Which side of a women's blouse are the buttons on?
14. Which way do fans rotate?
15. What is on the back of a Canadian dime?
16. How many sides does a stop sign have?
17. Do books have even-numbered pages on the! right or left side?
18. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?
19. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?
20. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc.... Who's missing?
21. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?
22. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?
23. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening (or tilt) between the slats?
24. On the back of a $1 coin, what is in the center?
25. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?
26. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?
27. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe