20020330 Grove OK

Visiting Don and Chris in their lake house in Grove OK. After breakfast, we went to Har-Ber Village. It is a collection of 100 some buildings with artifacts from the area to show what the frontier life was like. Several log cabins were brought here from towns in Arkansas, Oklahoma, etc. We went back to the lake house and got stuff organized to leave. At the grocery store, Mary Harriett picked up a few things and Chris got things she needed for Sunday dinner.  We left about 4:30 in two cars. I rode with Don and Chris rode with Mary Harriett. We rode along old Historic Route 66 and arrived at their house in Tulsa about 7:30. Beautiful house - so many interesting things to look at. Don showed us a box Mother had given him that had family stuff in it, tin types, photo album, little things. It was definitely from Cousin Marion R. About 10 we had some libations and played a game of 31. Chris won. It was after 11:30 when we got to bed. Mary Harriett and I are sharing a room with twin beds. with our own bathroom, closet, and thermostat, so we can control the temperature for our room.

Chris and Don

20020331 Tulsa OK (Easter)

Easter Sunday dawned with beautiful weather; blue skies, cool in morning, but warmed up into the 70’s. We got to church with Don and Chris at 8:00 and crowds of people were already hurrying in. We got a seat in the back row. Lance, Vanessa and Lillian (her mother) were already there. I estimated there were 500 people in the sanctuary, but I couldn’t see into the balcony. When the service was over, there were people waiting + pushing their way in for the 9:30 contemporary service and there is another service at 11:00. We met the rest of the family outside the church. Justin, Karla and their two children, Nicole and Austin. We drove around Tulsa OK until it was time to meet everyone at the Country Club for brunch at 10:30. After the meal, we saw more of Tulsa and at 1:00 went to Gilcrease Museum. A friend of Christine’s came to show us the exhibits, she made it much more interesting. When we walked in the door, we were greeted by an official greeter, Donald said we were from New York, the man said “not from Hoosick Falls?”. Of course, we said ”Yes”. There is a special exhibit of Grandma Moses in the gallery. Of course we had to tell our Grandma Moses stories. Donald’s sister, Shirley and her husband, Bill, came for supper. We had a wonderful meal; brisket, roasted asparagus, salad, cheesecake and strawberries for dessert. After supper we played “31”.

I called the family about 5:00 and talked to Andy, Cathy, Nancy, Christopher, Helena, Steven, and Cindy Ann. Used up one of the twenty minute cards. Mary Harriett called John and Linda. We couldn’t reach Ann and Bruce. Will try tomorrow. 

Austin and Nicole

Karla, Justin, Austin and Nicole

20020401 Tulsa OK

We were up by 7:30 and had coffee here. Mary Harriett called Chrysler places to see if she could get an oil change for the van and made an appointment for 2:00. We went to the Savoy for breakfast and had biscuits and sausage gravy. Then we went to see Don's business, the Fintube plant, and visited Lance’s Chiropractic office. In the afternoon, I stayed home while Mary Harriett and Don went to the garage and Chris got groceries. Mary Harriett is collecting charms for her bracelet on this trip. Chris called several stores to see if any had a silver charm with an oil derrick and she found one. We had left our film at Moto Photo in morning so Mary Harriett and Don picked those up and she got her charm. We looked at pictures, got snacks and dinner. Don cooked some chicken breasts on grill and we had squash, rice, and salad, was all delicious. After supper we played “Oh Hell”. Don won. Then “31”.  Mary Harriett won. We talked some more, then off to bed at 12:00.

20020403 Fort Worth TX

After Tulsa, we headed to Fort Worth TX to visit with Cindy Ann's parents and sister's family. When we arrived, we had dinner, then watched the DVD that Nancy sent. It was wonderful to see it. We got up at 8:00. Amy made a very large breakfast for us; grapefruit, oranges, plums, bananas, mangoes, and three kinds of toast. Amy and Bill took us to the Botanical Gardens in morning and we toured the Japanese garden. It was wonderful and very peaceful. It was very windy and cool, it must have been in the 50’s. We had lunch at Sara’s where she served ham and cheese in pita bread with strawberries. After lunch, we went to the Modern Art Museum, but the exhibits were all architecture stuff - models and drawings. We picked up Sara’s kids, Ian and Madeline and then drove around downtown Fort Worth, Cow Town and some of the mansion areas. We went out to dinner at Uncle Julio’s where I had a very good white fish, called tilapia. We enjoyed talking with Jarrod, Sara’s husband. We drove around the downtown area after dinner to see it lit up. Very nice. When we got home we were checking on our route for tomorrow and while talking with Bill, Nancy called. I was supposed to call her tonight. Everything is ok, to bed early.

Amy, Bill, Madeline, Sara, Mary Harriett, Jarrod, and Ian

Judy, Bill and Amy

20020404 Austin TX

We got on the road about 8:30. Bill left to play golf, so we wanted to be up to say good bye to him. We took 30 to 35 W going south. We stopped at a Walmart in Hillsboro to get a couple of things, including ice. We stopped in Austin TX to go to the Wildflower Center that Lady Bird Johnson started. We bought some postcards in the gift shop and I got a discount for being a member of Landis Arboretum. They had some beautiful things there. I was very tempted to buy a skirt, blue denim with embroidered flowers on it, only $40. I can’t get over how flat the terrain is. When we go up on an overpass. you can see for miles. We drove on towards San Antonio TX and looked over our coupon books and decided to stay at the Comfort Inn out on Rt 10. It is 6 miles out of town, but the tour bus comes to pick up guests. We are on the ground floor and the car is right outside our room. That is the way I like it, because I can run out when I forget something or want to bring in all my stuff. Ate dinner at the restaurant right next to motel. Made reservations for a full day tour of San Antonio. 

20020405 San Antonio TX

I set the alarm so we would be up in time to have breakfast and be ready for the bus to pick us up for the tour at 8:30. We were up before the alarm and were fed and ready by the time the bus came. It was the “Grand all-day tour”. We went to the Japanese Sunken Garden, IMAX, riverboat ride, and got our lunch at the Menger Hotel. They had a wonderful buffet for only $8.75, then we toured the Alamo on our own. It was very crowded. We got back on the bus at 2:00 and went to San José Mission, Mission Concepción, Spanish Governor’s Palace and Market Square. We definitely want to go back to stroll around the Riverwalk area. The IMAX film was the battle at the Alamo. We were not impressed with Market Square. We got a “Lone Star” beer, but it tasted a lot like a Bud. We were delivered back to Comfort Inn about 6:00. We had asked the bus driver about a place to eat and he suggested the “Little Red Barn”. So, we drove out, after checking directions at the desk. I estimated there were about 180 cars in the parking lot, so we expected to wait, but we were ushered right to a table by a young lady carrying salads. We ordered steaks and baked potatoes, which were very good. We got back to motel with no trouble. Now to write postcards and plan next part of our trip.

20020412 Santa Fe NM

We headed up to Santa Fe. Boy, is the landscape bleak. I can’t imagine how anyone settled there in the first place. Mary Harriett says the mountains look just like Spain so the Conquistadors must have felt at home. We drove into the city about 2:00, found a place to park, walked past many interesting shops to the San Francisco Cafe to get a meal. We walked up to the Plaza to check to see if tours left from there and there was a tour about ready to leave (5:00), so we got on. It was a terrific tour, what a city! What views and terrific sculptures for sale in the galleries we went by. This motel has a very nice room for its breakfast, but not a lot of choices. I had toast with peanut butter. We drove to the City Center and started serious shopping. Mary Harriett bought a charm and watch bracelet at the first store. The woman was very knowledgable and told us about the different kinds of turquoise. We worked our way up to the “plaza”, went by the Native Americans, sitting on the porch of the Governor’s Palace. We looked over dozens of things, I finally found a bracelet for Elizabeth. We went round the corner to find a place to eat and there was the Wagon that was mentioned in Eating Across USA. We got the Carnitas special and lemonade. Then on to the library. We were able to get on a computer for 1/2 hour to get and send e-mails. It has been very interesting to go into libraries in different cities. We went to the Loretta Chapel which has a very famous staircase. Then we went on to the Museum of Indian Cultures. Saw some rugs which reminded me I have Win’s grandfather’s Navaho rugs. I must get them out to see what condition they are in when I get home.