It’s Here! Happy Fall ~

Posted on September 22, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

                                                        HaPPy Fall, ya’ll

Posted in Arkansas Photos, Fall, photos, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , | 30 Comments

Paula’s Ponderings ~

Posted on September 20, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

Several weeks ago I received an e-mail from a friend that said, “You might wanna blog about this sometime.” She went on to talk about friendships and was wondering how we fall into friendships in life?  Are we attracted to others because of like interests?  Or is it opposite interests?  What makes us remain friends through the years?  Well, since I wake up with “nuttin” so many mornings, you thought I planned this stuff?, I made a mental note of this e-mail.

I re-read the message this evening.  It made me think about friends that have come and gone in my life.  They were true and real at the time. But moves and time and life happens.  And suddenly it’s been a few years since you’ve talked.  You always treasure the friendship and memory in your heart, but either you or they, or maybe both (?) have taken a different direction.  It. Just. Happens.

People are placed in our life for a reason.  Some good.  Some ~ well, not so good.  Some for forever and others are just for that moment when you chit-chat at the  grocery store.  (You know what I’m talking about.  You leave thinking to yourself, ‘I think we could be friends’.)

I don’t have any answers, dear Delores.  It is my thinking that friendships either happen or they don’t.   You have left me pondering.  But perhaps your most pertinent question of the  e-mail was this; “ I wonder if they ever hide Snicker Bars in the back of the freezer to enjoy with coffee on a day when they need some cheering.”  This should be the basis for every relationship.  Period.♥

Here’s to friends, present and past. To those we meet in blog world.  And to those that could have happened ~ had we been in line at the post office at the same time. 🙂

Happy Friday 🙂  And much love to Delores ♥

Posted in Delores, Friends, Friendships, ponderings, Ramblings, Reflections, Relationships | Tagged , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

This Land was Made for You and Me ~

Posted on September 19, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

Sundays in the park.  A place to play or kick back.  Listen to music.  Dance.  Relax.  A beautiful new park area recently opened in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma.  They have all of this and more in mind for residents and visitors.  Hubby and I had to go check it out this past Sunday. Guthrie Green is a pretty awesome gathering place.  I do believe Woody Guthrie nailed it when he sang, “This land was made for you and me.” ♥

Hope your day is a good one.  And be nice to each other.  You just never know what that other person may be going through ♥

Posted in Oklahoma, photos, Tulsa, Tulsa. Oklahoma | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Visiting Small Town America ~ Chouteau, Oklahoma

Posted on September 17, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

Hubby and I stepped back in time on Saturday when we took a little drive to Chouteau, Oklahoma.  We come to this little town about once a month where we visit the Amish Cheese House for some amazing food and goods.  There are also some fun antique stores in town.  But on this particular day, we were headed to the park.  It was the annual Black Buggy Day.  We have visited Amish farms in Lancaster county(PA), but this was different.  It was a gathering in the park for all to enjoy gospel music, food, rodeo, and fun.  As we watched the children run and play, we thought of our own boys when they were younger, and how this would have been the perfect place for them, too.  A rainy day, lots of mud, and  no one seemed to care. ok~ I cared….but I dealt!I tend to over analyze situations.  “Fix them”, if only in my mind.  But if you don’t know what you are missing out on….then I’m guessing you are not missing out on a thing…..and life is good as you know it.  That’s what I’d like to hope, anyways. ♥

Posted in Amish, Oklahoma, photos, Reflections, travel, Uncategorized, Visiting Small Town America | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

Country Roads ~

Posted on September 16, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

A dreary day drive………..What song or verse comes to mind when you see this road?

Have a good Sunday ♥

Posted in Music, Oklahoma, photos, random photos, Reflections, travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Feel Groovy ~

Posted on September 15, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

Whatever you may choose to do today, and wherever you choose to go…..hope you enjoy! Have a great weekend, people.  And if you have a minute, you might want to check out a couple of blogs that I read weekly.   Bonnie will encourage you and make you smile, for sure. (one of the above pics is just for her….wanna guess which one?)  And Chris?  Well, you will scratch your noggin’ and then laugh, a lot.  🙂

Posted in photos, random photos | Tagged , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Oklahoma City National Memorial

Posted on September 13, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

April 19, 1995.  The day that forever changed Oklahoma. We became a ball of fear, caution and grief.  But at the same time we turned to each other for comfort. We leaned more on our faith.  Hugged our children tighter.  Loved our neighbors more. Oklahoma was on display for the world.  That same world embraced us and became a smaller place.  The Chapel ~ A place for prayer and reflection.Field of Empty Chairs~ 168 chairs symbolize each life lost.  The smaller chairs represent the 19 children.The Survivor Tree~  a 90-year-old American Elm that was witness to the violence of April 19.“The spirit of this city and this nation will not be defeated; our deeply rooted faith sustains us.”

May we never forget ♥

Posted in Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, photos, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Visiting Oklahoma City ~

Posted on September 12, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

Maybe I am not really considered a visitor to Oklahoma City.  I was born here, after all.  But many changes have occurred since we moved away.  Positive changes.  I still feel at home here, but yet, like a “guest”.   A welcomed guest, that is. These are just a handful of photos from the downtown area.  There is so much to see and do here with Bricktown, the Memorial, the canal, the cupcake stores and the candy stores.  I haven’t even mentioned all the places you can eat and shop while here! Then there are sports and music venues galore.  Perhaps I’m a bit partial…..but if you haven’t visited Oklahoma City, you may want to add it to your list for some fun!  🙂

p.s.  Expect more OKC photos SOON! (….we are the SOONER state, ya know?)  Have a good one, friends ♥

Posted in Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, photos, travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

If You Just Smile

Posted on September 11, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

Smile lyrics by Charlie Chaplin

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥

I had the honor and pleasure of hearing this song performed Saturday evening at The Joint in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The artist was one I grew up listening to. (thanks to my parents with great taste in  music!)  Anthony Dominick Benedetto, aka, Tony Bennett.

At age eighty-six, Tony Bennett’s voice is still strong and spot on.  He teased us with a bit of soft shoe and left us wanting more.  He continues to sing with joy and appreciation for his art and his audience.  My heart hurt when he spoke of Pearl Bailey, Jimmy Durante, Rosemary Clooney, and Bob Hope.  Tony Bennett’s presence on this stage reminded me of how much I miss them.  We laughed when he told us that Bob Hope was the one that renamed him Tony Bennett because Bob said, “Your real name would never fit on my  marquee.”

His second and final encore song was, “Smile”.  He shared that when he recorded it several years ago, he received a note in the mail from Switzerland thanking him for giving his song “life again”….signed ~Charlie Chaplin.

I didn’t want his last song to end.  I tried to capture every word and note.  And while the song title was “Smile”, it brought tears.  This legendary man was singing to me while my hand was being squeezed by my legendary man.  If a moment in time could be frozen,  this would have been the one. ~ ♥

The Best is Yet to Come ♪ The Good Life ♫ The Way You Look Tonight ♫ I’ve Got the World On A String ♪ I Left My Heart in San Francisco ♫ Because of You ♪ ♫ ♪

p.s.  I hope this song is stuck in your head.  All.  Day.  Long. 🙂  Be kind to each other ♥

Posted in Music, Musicians | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Forgiveness

Posted on September 10, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

He can turn the tide
And calm the angry sea
He alone decides
Who writes a symphony
He lights every star
That makes our darkness bright
He keeps watch all through
Each long and lonely night

He still finds a way
To hear a child’s first prayer
Saint or sinner calls
And always finds him there
Though it makes him sad
To see the way we live
He’ll always say – I forgive

He can grant a wish
Or make a dream come true
He can paint the clouds
And turn the grey to blue
He alone knows where
To find the rainbows end
He alone can see
What lies beyond the bend

He can touch a tree
And turn the leaves to gold
He knows every lie
That you and I have told
Though it makes him sad
To see the way we live
He’ll always say – I forgive

Lyrics to “HE”  written by Denis Walter

I grew up listening to this song.  On our drive the other day, watching the threatening clouds drawing nearer, it came to mind again.  And yes, I had to sing it!  As for forgiveness?  Well, I’ve lived long enough to know that they are not just words so that the other person will feel better.  They are words that free the giver’s soul ♥ Forgive and move forward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout out to my dear friend, Lauri, today.  We go way back…and a lot of singing was involved! Almost an arrest because of it! 🙂 Also Happy Birthday to Nancy and to Harold.  How awesome that these three special friends share this day! ♥)

Posted in Forgiveness, photos, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments