Seasons Greetings To All

Winter has arrived early this year. Even before the Winter Solstice began later this week (December 21 in some places and December 22 around these parts).

It was Tuesday, December 19, 2006, 7:30 a.m., that we awoke to 3 inches of snow cover and heavy, wet snow was still tumbling calmly down to earth at a steady, slow, accumulating pace -- inch by inch. By 8:46 a.m., that same morning, it was doing some of the same -- leaving an additional 2 to 3 inches in the valley areas by late afternoon.

During Tuesday's snow fall, Sadie and NW Okie strolled out into the pasture looking for the horses -- finding them towards of northeast corner of the pasture (two horses standing out in the snow and the paint horse under a tree).

After saying our hellos, this lead mare (NW Okie), turned, headed back towards the barn/corral -- coaxing Sadie Pug out in front of her to keep this small black pug in sight and away from horses hooves. NW Okie knew the horses would line up and follow her in their own time and fashion ... eventually.

Here they came... Sadie, taking the lead out in front of pack, only turning back to see if she still had a pack to lead; the lead mare (NW Okie) coaxing, following -- second in line; then came Nugget closely behind NW Okie; Maggie, by this time, had fallen in behind Nugget; and the paint horse, Doquoti, was bringing up the rear.

It continued to snow until about 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, dumping a total of 5 to 6 inches in the southwest valley of Colorado, while the San Juan mountains measured in at 20 inches.

It was the kind of snow that makes for those surreal, photogenic views that blanket the Rockies around this time of year -- leaving a blanket of white covering the trees, bushes and anything in its path. It was like a childhood, dreamlike view that someone had just come along and left a heavy blanket of snow across everything in sight -- decorating the rockies for Winter and the coming holidays. It is Beautiful!

We did NOT have the blowing, drifting winds and icy conditions that many of you experienced in the Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and eastern parts of Colorado. We understand that the Denver airport had been closed for a few days... until about noon on Friday. AND... I25 & I70 running through Denver, Colorado were completely closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thankfully... the western parts of Colorado had a break from the snowy weather on Wednesday and the rest of the week. It was Wednesday that we made a trip down towards Farmington, New Mexico to pick up our oldest son, whom had flown in from northwest Louisiana via Dallas & Houston, Texas with an extra hour delay in Albuquerque, New Mexico before catching his next flight to Farmington, NM around half past noon.

The photo above, to the left is a picture of Doquoti (under the tree), Maggie and Nugget (enjoying the snow out in the open. All this graces our place here in rural southwest Colorado, south of Bayfield.

Vallecito Webshots -- We have placed more of those Winter scenes of December 19 & 21, 2006 on our Vallecito Webshots.

We know that Christmas is quickly peeking around the corner. AND... we have decided to try and keep this week's newsletter short, sweet as possible -- leaving all our loyal readers with wishes of Seasons Greetings & Happy Holidays to All!

For the rest of the weekend, this NW Okie (Santa's Elf) is going to finish up gathering presents for under the christmas tree! See you next weekend (the last weekend of 2006) summing up the Issues of the 2006 OkieLegacy newsletters.
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Osborn & Pittman's of Alva, OK

"Dear Okie, I sure do enjoy your stories and others. My G-Grandparents, the Osborns, and several other spellings of their names. He was George had 4 children there in Alva. My Great-grandmother Ida Mae was born there. My Grandfather Richard Pittman and several of my Aunts and Uncles too. I was told my great Uncle was a barber there. My G-Great-grandfather made homemade tamales and hominy and pushed a cart through town selling those items. They called his wife MA Harvey does anyone know her name? If any one has any info please e-mail me at vglover776@sbcglobal.net." -- Vickie Pittman Glover - Email: vglover776@sbcglobal.net
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Keith Smith's Memorial

"Keith was an incredible person and is sorely missed by everyone who knew him. There is a permanent website to his memory, located at Keithbsmith.com. The memorial service held in his honor at the 4th floor Rotunda of the state capitol in Oklahoma City was attended by a large gathering of friends, state officials, and family members -- on one of the nastiest days of the winter, when the state offices were closed." -- Rod Murrow
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Thanks for Posting Keith Smith's Memorial

"Thank you for posting the information about Keith. It seems to me that Alvans undervalue the treasures, like Keith, that they send out into the world." -- SBW
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Looking for HURT Cousins

"I was considering perusing this research this summer. If, as Aida stated, research is $100 per day, it would depend on the amount each contributor was willing to dedicate. I need to get an estimate from one of the researchers. Does this summer sound Okay with anyone? What do you think about inviting other cousins to participate? I need to get two more marriage records, and some land records from Nebraska. The information in the book Nebraska, Kansas Czech Settlers was taken from the Czech newspaper Hospodar. I will check with the Nebraska State Historical Society to get copies of the original listing from the microfilm. I need to send as many original records with the research request as possible. Emma Hurt Louthan's descendant: Betty Martin, Jeanine Baringer, Laura, Marianna Iverson are the names of cousins I can think of at the moment. Do you have a mailing list for Hurt descendants?" -- Kathleen Gregory

[Editor's Note: If there are any Hurt descendants out there that would like to help out in the funding for a research of the HURT lineage overseas, please contact: Kathleen Gregory - gregory@giantcomm.net]
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The Wizard of OZ

"My husband made our kids watch The Wizard of Oz with him year after year after year. It got to the point that they would hide if they knew it was going to be on. LOL Now when it is on TV, it is nothing for us to get several calls letting us know. Kids in their 40s, nieces and nephews in their 50s, and even great nephews and grandkids will call. And you know...He usually tunes in for at least part of it." -- Ann E.
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Wizard of OZ Museum

"Dear NW Okie, I just want you to know about the following link to a Museum of the Wizard of Oz. It is located in Wamego, Kansas, and is about 14 miles from where this NW Oklahoman now lives. Cheers!" -- James Bradley
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Pine Valley, OK & Malcolm Wade

"I worked many years for Malcolm Wade at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB. He was from Talihina and retired to Talihina. Did you know him?" -- SBW
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Frank Munson

"I remember taking ceramic lessons at the hatchery when I was a child - if my memory is correct! I hope Linda's OkieLegacy is helpful to you." - Sandie Olson

[Albert Munson wrote: I may be a descendant of Frank Munson. My name is Albert Franklin Munson. My family moved to your area in the 1880's. William Preston Munson had five sons and they had sons. I do not recall any stories of a hatchery but he was supposed to have raised mules for the army. Supposed to be Cherokee or Delaware Indian. If you have any information on the family I would appreciate knowing." -- Albert Munson - email: bmun910@msn.com]
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Oklahoma Rains Came ... Finally

"We didn't get your snow (and none is predicted now) but finally got some rain here in Perry, Oklahoma. It began late Tuesday and overnight we'd received a little more than an inch. Then the next morning we got another 1/10th. It has warmed up again and we don't anticipate any freezes (at all) 'til after Christmas! Hope your's is "merry and bright" and continues to be white (since that's what you wanted). Our gas prices are rising again so the station owners can make more money with all this increased traffic. Our prices are now at $2.19.9 for unleaded regular. I'm told that it's cheaper in Stillwater (25 miles from here) because of more competition." -- Roy K.
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Murphy's Lesser Known Laws

MURPHY'S LESSER KNOWN LAWS...

Quote of the Week

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope. . .those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest of walls of oppression and resistance.” -- Robert F. Kennedy, 1925 – 1968
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NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (WOMEN'S VERSION) T'was the night before Christmas and all through the kitchen;
I was cooking and moanin' and bitchin'.
I've been here for hours, I can't stop to rest.
This room's a disaster.... just look at this mess!
Tomorrow I've got thirty people to feed.
They expect all the trimmings. Who cares what I need!
My feet are both blistered, I've got cramps in my legs.
The cat just knocked over a bowl full of eggs.
There's a knock at the door and the telephone's ringin.
Frosting drips on the counter as the microwave's dinging.
Two pies in the oven, dessert's almost done,
My cookbook is soiled with butter and crumbs.
I've had all I can stand, I can't take anymore;
Then in walks my husband, spilling rum on the floor.
He weaves and he wobbles, his balance unsteady;
Then grins as he chuckles, "The eggnog is ready!"
He looks all around and with total regret, says, "What's taking so long...aren' t you through in here yet?"
As quick as a flash I reach for a knife,
He loses an earlobe, I wanted his life!
He flees from the room in terror and pain and screams,
"MY GOD WOMAN, YOU'RE GOING INSANE!!!"
Now what was I doing, and what is that smell?
Oh darn it's the pies!!! They're burned all to...well
I hate to admit when I make a mistake,
But I put them on BROIL instead of on BAKE.
What else can go wrong? Is there still more ahead?
If this is good living, I'd rather be dead.
Lord, don't get me wrong, I love holidays.
It just leaves me exhausted, all shaky and dazed.
But I promise you one thing, if I live 'til next year,
You won't find me pulling my hair out in here.
I'll hire a maid, a cook, and a waiter...and if that doesn't work,
I'LL HAVE IT ALL CATERED!!!!!" -- submitted by Roy K., Perry, OK
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Happy Holidays

Happy holiday wishes to you and your family. I just read and enjoyed your story in The Okie Legacy about our clan (McGill's of Lewis, Edward Co., Kansas). I printed out a copy to send to brother Gene. I tried to forward a copy to my daughters and Gene's daughter, Mel - for some reason the forwarded web site couldn't be opened. Any suggestions? It sure looks cold in Coolorado. We are enjoying nice weather here on the Central Coast. We live in Blacklake Village (Nipomo, Ca) a golf resort - we enjoy golfing year around. Take care and thanks again for keeping our (McGill) history alive." -- Bob McGill
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