My favorite trail on our recent trip to southeast Oklahoma’s Beavers Bend State Park was the Lakeview Lodge Trail. We hiked a little over 4 miles. The trail had some up and down, some water views, and was in generally great shape. The woods were opened up and it was very enjoyable.
My wife, son, and I had a pretty good time.
I’m linking with My Corner of the World
The family went on a little mini vacay this week down to Beavers Bend State Park in southeast Oklahoma.
We stayed in a nice cabin
Went on one big hike and a smaller hike.
Kayaking for me and Logan, and Standup Paddleboard for Heather on Broken Bow Lake.
Kodi went with us on the shorter hike along the Mountain Fork River.
He got a little intro into swimming in a river.
Some fire pit time for everybody.
Checking out a partial moon.
We had a great time. More to come.
My wife Heather and our son Logan in the shadows at the Idaho Falls, Idaho Zoo during a visit years ago.
Happy Mothers Day to all Mothers!!
Last week before the weather got bad son Logan and I had a walk at Tulsa’s Gathering Place. One of my favorite spots is the sensory garden. All sorts of fun stuff here including mirrors and a geocache.
We checked out one of the play towers. When there are no kids around I have been known to climb up into these things. We just looked at it today.
And the beach. Too cold for anything beach related besides taking photos.
And the small lake, not much happening there.
I love the big timbers holding up the elevated trails. They have trails going this way and that and some of them cross over others. It’s quite the maze. Fun though!!
I violated a photography rule by shooting into the sun. I also got a crooked pic. Somehow, it worked for me.
And the roof the boat dock.
And then we ventured over to the nearby Arkansas River where the a new dam and pedestriana bridge are being built. The stuff in the foreground is where a new kayak park is going in. All this is going to be ready late next year.
And we saw two Cats.
And a Deer!!
Nope, this is not in Tulsa. I finished another jigsaw puzzle on my ipad. This one kicked my butt pretty good. I’m getting to where I like the tough ones.
If you want to visit the Gathering Place check out their web site. It’s free!! Bring money for drinks and food but you don’t need tickets or anything. Just come on down. Tell them I sent you.
I am linking with Skywatch Friday. Check it out. You’ll like it. I promise.
Son, Logan, exploring the shadowy trails of Gulf State Park in Orange Beach, Alabama.
An Armadillo escaping the heat in the woods.
A fawn in the deep woods staying close to its mother.
When its hot, the woods are the place to be. This is son going ahead of me.
Linking with Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Check it out.
I’ve been laid up lately so I haven’t been taking any skywatch photos. So what does any self respecting blogger do in such a case? Of course they go to the archives. So here are some photos from a family trip to Idaho and Wyoming back in 2012
This is the back end of a thunderstorm that went through swan valley. The whole sky opened up in a deluge that lasted maybe two or three minutes and then it was over. The deluge was still happening it was just moving toward Wyoming quickly.
We were stopped at a store at Rainey Creek, Idaho. They sell square ice cream in many different flavors, and ours is huckleberry. I strongly recommend it.
Later in the day, we got to the Grand Teton National Park. We went to Mormon Row home of the most photographed barns in the world. The Mouton barns.
They were some bison there munching away on the tasty grass.
We had gone there to visit my father. Here we are on Teton Pass that afternoon.
Anyway, thanks for letting me do the blast from the past. It brings back lots of great memories.
Come check out Skywatch Friday. Lots of talented bloggers post their best work there.
I got cleared by my doctor today to go out and about so next week I’ll have new photos. Gotta tell you that though that they are not going to be of the Tetons or of a mountain storm passing through.
Our son, Logan graduated from college last Friday. Heather and I drove down to Chickasha and found him chillaxing with a frappucino in one of the lounges.
He got cleaned up and ready for the ceremony. It was actually a banquet for the December graduates but they had caps and gowns and got awarded their diploma covers. It was kind of funny because they had a disclaimer that just because you went through the ceremony doesn’t necessarily mean that you met the requirements for graduation. You see Friday was the last day of classes also so if one celebrated too early you may not get anything to put in your diploma folder.
Here is Logan with Sean, the program director who oversaw the students who had autism. The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is the only place in the state with a program for people on the spectrum where they can get a fully accredited degree instead of a certificate. More programs are coming but right now USAO is the only degree program in the state. If you are interested, it is called the Neil-Wint Center for Neurodiversity. Click the link for more info. One takes regular classes and does all the work that other students do.
Here is Logan with his sweet fellow student Erin. My heart goes out to these graduates. Talk about being through the wringer with Covid and a pivot to online classes and putting up with protocols and all that. The world is changing.
Here is a video taken by Seann of Logan getting called up to get his degree. One of the benefits of a small college. The academic advisors for each student introduced the student individually. I love it. When I graduated from the University of New Mexico way back when all several thousand of us got a wave of the hand. Here, Logan’s advisor, came and sat down with us during the dinner.
And here is Mom and Dad with Logan. Yes, I know my hair is a fright!! I am getting it cut this coming Friday.
And another pic of the graduate.
The next morning, the party is over. Clean out his dorm room and check out. Our SUV was cram full!!
And a final photo with Heather and Logan.
What’s next? He is applying for jobs in the Tulsa area. He is a great writer and a hard worker.
Went for a walk at Lafortune Park here in Tulsa. I saw all these geese including some youngins’ coming out of the pond in a single file line. As I got closer they saw me and broke rank. I messed up the whole shot all by myself.
This was Fathers Day last Sunday with Heather, my wife. I am 66 years old this year so I am trying to get as many Route 66 icons in my posts as I can. This is Buck Atoms on Route 66 just east of downtown Tulsa. I had a blessed Fathers Day. Cards and gifts from Heather and son as well as from my MIL. Son had an online Spanish class test so he was tied up most of the day Sunday. I’m blessed and thankful to have him for my son. It’s been quite a summer with the intensive summer school plus working at Lowes Hardware quite a bit.
He’s a great kid even if dislikes geocaching. Shows how smart he is maybe.
This is four years ago at Orange Beach, Alabama, our favorite vacation spot. We didn’t get a vacation last year for obvious reasons. Maybe later this year.
I love cow pics. This is a bunch of Angus cattle at my wife’s cousin’s ranch in western Oklahoma. They look like they want to know what is going on. No, they didn’t really want to know. Cows don’t die of old age on a working cattle ranch if you get my drift.
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This sign got added to the yard last night.
It’s for this guy, who is now a college man.
But we remember him napping with Pooh Bear on the beach.
And riding Ranger the stick horse all over the house.
He’s a great son who we are proud of.
And here he is with his Grandmother, Nana.
And hanging out in the flower gardens with his mom.
He loves hanging out with his Mom in quiet times.
And more exciting times.
Happy Birthday Logan, we are proud of you and love you very much.
An addendum,
The Birthday Boy
I think he loved the yard sign. Heather hired an outfit to do it. It’s like a super-duper birthday card.
Used the drone to get a little altitude plus it is its own tripod.
A little bit higher angle. Tried to use the tripod with my Nikon but it would have to be in the middle of the street.
We loved the sign and missed it when the people came and pulled it up.
We had a birthday dinner at a nice restaurant.
And lots and lots of candles.
A good time was had by all!