Cold Weather & Catching Up
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It has gotten cold in the last few days, so this post is about the recent cold weather and catching you up on things regarding Mamie.
I literally went from wearing shorts to pants and long sleeved shirts overnight. The heater is now on. I always find it interesting that it can be hot one day and cold the next.
I’ve been packing a bit at a time. Yesterday I didn’t do much packing at all. I taped one box up that was already filled. It seems that I work and then have to take a day off to elevate my ankle and give my hands a rest.
I never thought I’d ever come to the point that I had to let my hands rest due to overuse. Don’t you recall looking at old people when you were a kid and wondering what on earth had happened to them?
Why did their fingers resemble claws? And why did they walk so stooped over? It was kind of frightening, wasn’t it, to see human beings in such a state?
So many things happen that you never expect. But I guess if we knew what would happen as we aged we wouldn’t ever be able to face it. Like the weather, things seem to change overnight.
What’s Going On With Mamie:
On the house front, Kendra just called me from Lowe’s to talk to me about grab bars for the bathtub and the toilet. She texted me photos to see what she’d picked out. It was all good.
I didn’t even tell her to get a bar for the toilet, though one of you mentioned it to me. Because I hesitate to put one more thing on her plate. But she thought of it, so that’s good. I doubt very much that she will be the one installing grab bars in the bathroom though.
She mentioned that the professional cleaner did a good job on Mamie.
She literally drives around all day. I don’t think I want to know how many miles Kendra drives per day. Marley, aged 15, lives part-time with her dad in a town called Sand Springs. The kids have gone to their schools all their lives.
Kendra drives her to school, then picks her up and a bit later there’s usually softball practice. She drives her back to Sand Springs for that. And then there are the school events she must go back for.
Marley Turning 16:
Hopefully Marley will have her driver’s license in December and she can do some of this driving herself. The baby blue Bronco is sitting at her grandparent’s house in Sand Springs. But she will only be allowed to drive it on weekends, and not to school and back.
This is the same thing they did when Riley was in high school. Maybe it’s an insurance situation; I don’t recall.
Marley will be driving her late grandpa’s Nissan Altima which has been sitting in Kendra’s driveway for some time now. There isn’t room for one more car in that driveway, though Kendra had it widened. The neighborhood where she lives, Maple View, is just a couple of blocks from The Gathering Place, if you’ve heard of that.
Mapleridge does not allow cars to park in the street. I think someone can temporarily park on one side for a bit. But anything else is frowned upon. I doubt if it matters much to you, but I will show you on a map where the Gathering Place is in relation to Kendra’s house.
Maple Ridge Neighborhood (in red)
The Iconic Route 66 to 5th Street
The second photo above where I will be in relation to Route 66 with all the restaurants and tourist attractions. This is not my address of course.
You can also see Swan Lake and Woodward Park, where I have gone to take photographs over the years. I haven’t been up to the walk since I moved in 2022. Maybe once I’m moved I’ll feel like going back. I love Swan Lake.
Philbrook Museum & Swan Lake:
Philbrook Museum
Swan Lake
There is the Philbrook Museum and Utica Square. The Philbrook Museum was founded in 1939. The Philbrook Museum of Art is an art museum with expansive formal gardens.
The museum, which opened in 1939, is located in a former 1920s villa, “Villa Philbrook”, the home of Oklahoma oil pioneer Waite Phillips and his wife Genevieve.
Swan Lake:
The four-acre Swan Lake Park includes a lake with a lighted, ornamental stone fountain, a 0.4-mile walking path, and stone benches. It is ideal for watching birds and waterfowl.
The neighborhood surrounding it is made up of 187 modest bungalows and Craftsman-style houses. Most of the houses are made of stucco or brick. Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival houses are also popular. The shaded streets are bordered by sidewalks and well-kept yards.
Below is the house on their website, a Craftsman, which is fairly close to what Mamie looks like. I love that the brick is not painted, like Mamie’s brick is. It is flaking off, but I don’t know what they’re planning to do about that.
There are thematic sculptures at this park, as well as a larger-than-life bronze of a trumpeter swan in-flight located at the park entrance. “Enchantment,” a boy with a swan, was relocated from the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair.
Organized in 1983, the Swan Lake Neighborhood Association launched a successful campaign (1992) to list the neighborhood in the National Register of Historic Places (1998).
Tulsa Parks and Swan Lake Waterfowl Society partner to ensure viability of resident swans and other riparian birds. Society cares for and feeds waterfowl; park staff maintains shore habitat.
Gathering Place:
I’ve never been to the Gathering Place. There’s too much walking. You have to park across the street in one of the parking lots scattered about.
I’ve heard there are nice restaurants there, as well as all the other attractions people come to visit.
Well, now that I’ve given you both a geography and a history lesson, I guess that’s all for today. Is it cold where you are?
It looks like a really nice area you’re moving too. Hopefully we can look forward to some pretty Swan Lake pictures. It’s chilly in north Florida. Hello Fall!
PS- I wouldn’t stress too much about the packing. Your lease isn’t up until January, so you could take your time if you can’t get it all finished in time. Go at a comfortable pace. You don’t want to over do it and hurt yourself.
The beginning of this post reminded me of a very short poem by a Western Massachusetts poet – the whole poem went something like this “I have become the old man at the gym I used to be afraid of”
We just went from the temps being in the 100’s — up to 110 this week — down to the 70’s this morning! Finally fall has arrived here in Lake Havasu. But now I feel like I need a sweater … our summer bodies need time to acclimate to these changes.
Miss Ivy is beyond beautiful. The way she tilts her little head and appears to flirt wiith her gorgeous green eyes. What a wonderful roommate she must be. More pictures of her would be appreciated. Please remember to keep her lock in your new home for several weeks after you two move. Cats are so curious and you don’t want her to attempt an adventure in your new neighborhood. Love what we have seen of your new “nest”.
Nancy Louise, Leland North Carolina
I lived in Oklahoma from 1992-2016. Moore and Newalla. My sister in law lives in Bixby so we have been to The Gathering Place and it is beautiful. We loved to go to see the play “The Drunkard” in Tulsa. We really miss Oklahoma but felt the need to return home to S.E. Missouri. I’m so glad you have such a cute home to move to. Can’t wait to see what you do with “Mamie”.
Kasi lives in the Bixby school district and that is Andrew’s school.
Yes, it is downright chilly here…after being 80 not many days ago. But FOR HERE, that is normal. We have 2 seasons: HOT and cold. All looks most lovely where you are headed…so glad about the bars…Hubby has them in his bathroom and uses them all the time.
Better safe than sorry, right?
I imagine it’s expensive, but perhaps some time later on, the paint on the brick on the front porch could be sandblasted and then sealed over after necessary (if any) tuck-pointing is done. But that’s for a home owned by the occupant, since it’s an investment. Trying to strip paint off brick with chemicals – have you ever watched Brett Waterman’s show “Restored”? He has restored LOTS of “Arts and Crafts” (a/k/a “Craftsmen” style homes) in his career in California and has done remarkable work. He could give you tons of ideas.
I read that you have to be careful with old brick.
All this is so interesting. How fun it is to be a part of some history. It is finally cooling by me in AZ. 85 today is a wonderful change from 100!!! LOL and the next few days – 70’s. It’s either short lived or WHAM! it’s winter. LOL.
My heat finally came on. Just turned it off the AC.
Kendra is taking good care of you!!! That’s a very good thing.
Baby steps gets the job done. Do what you can when you can. It’ll all get done.
I don’t know much about Tulsa except that there’s a fabulous x-stitch shop. LOL I enjoyed the history lesson – thank you!
Heavens, it’s a lesson for me too. I never go anywhere or know where anything is.
In Wisconsin we have had frost the last two mornings. Right now it is 60 degrees, but suppose to go up to 67. A couple of 70 degree weather days are coming up, but after this coming Sunday, it will be in the 40s. Hate to see it come, winter seems to last forever. We had a very warm and decent summer, so I will not grumble.
What a beautiful part of the city you live in. Just Lovely with the park and the Museum. So much fun to look forward to. I know moving is WORK, but the end result will be wonderful!!! Hugs to you and Ivy, have a great weekend !!
Yes, it will! Ivy is getting nervous with all the boxes. I try to talk to her about all the windows in the house. She’s never lived in a house.
Over the years, I’ve been both surprised and annoyed at how short Autumn and Spring seem compared to Summer and Winter. Shouldn’t there be three months of each season? But I find myself standing in front of the thermostat, switching the AC to heat, or vice versa. Where’s my six months of flinging the windows open and enjoying the fresh air and moderate temperatures?
Seems to me those days are gone for some reason.
I’m so excited for you! Craftsman style homes are my dream.
We moved about 6 years ago to an old farmhouse near the beach. Built in 1890 but boy, is it solid! Unfortunately my body went to hell in that short time and the steps are killing me. Agreed, what happened???
The bedrooms and full bath are upstairs with an office (4th bedroom, ha!) and half bath on the main floor. I never dreamed I’d be longing to move back to a ranch!
Thank you for all the updates, Brenda.
I don’t quite know how they’re going to put railings on those steps, because the columns are there, but guess they’ll figure it out.
Kelli, my brother had one of those chair lifts installed so he can go to the basement to work in his office. Expensive but he feels it’s worth it
Brenda what a wonderful “trip” you are taking us on! I think the most grateful thing is….your daughter Kendra. God Bless her. ❤️
Yes, she’s been wonderful! Sunday at lunch she said: “Well, if something happens and you can’t pay rent, not a huge problem. That’s my house that’s paid for.” However, the rent is how she pays her bills. So I will do everything I can to make sure she gets her money.
Suddenly cooler in Colorado. I am happy you have a talented daughter who is taking care of so much.
They lost their dad in March. I’m all they have now in terms of parents.