An Oklahoman in Okehampton

I feel like it's time for a few "musings."  It's the last day of November.  It's finally turned cold (at least it feels cold to me) and we're supposed to have a little frost tonight.  I was out in my garden for a while today....All the plants are looking a little shop worn and are finally going to sleep for the winter...although there are some plants here that are perfectly happy during the winter and persist in blooming anyway.

I have all my bulbs in the ground...and am making plans for a few changes next spring.  Sounds like the typical gardner doesn't it? 

This has been a good year....we've gotten a lot accomplished.  I'm keeping up with news from home, and my mother isn't doing well.  She finally had to be moved to a nursing home and already has had one trip to the hospital.  It's hard to know about it and not be able to be with her.

In church last sunday we lit our first Advent candle.  There will be other Christmas services as time goes on and I'm really looking forward to it.  This coming Thursday evening we will have Edwardian Night.  The road through town will be closed, all the shops will be open late and offering goodies to eat and drink, the Christmas lights are up and there will be a carol service and hog roast.  It's a great time to be out with everyone and enjoy the atmosphere.  I'll be able to have hot roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and generally wax nostalgic.  I know it's old fashioned, and there's no glitz, but who needs it anyway?  It's just so pleasant to be able to do something like this and let the rest of the world go by.  It may rain (it did last year) but no one seems to mind...we do it anyway and have a great time.

I have my 67th birthday coming up....hmmmmn...do we really need to talk about that?  funny thing about age....it happens whether we like it or not!  I've certainly learned a lot about myself in the year I've been here...some good, some bad, some....well... they just don't matter....

More later...

Hey everyone,

As of today, I've been here one year!  Can you believe it?  It almost seems that I've been here longer than that in some ways.  I guess that's because I'm getting used to everything.  Matter of fact...yesterday while I was doing my errands in town, a woman stopped me stating she was lost and could I give her directions?  Believe it or not I was able to!!!  It made me feel like a "town chick" for sure.

Lately I've been looking for something to do during the upcoming winter months.  Working in the garden certainly won't be much of an option.  (Although I do have seedings started in my greenhouse for Spring)  I'm still into a lot of photography, but wanted to do something else that was still creative.  I was looking at my mother's paint box that I brought with me when I moved, and decided to use it for my own purpose. 

Long story short...I've gotten back into water colour painting.  I have hundreds of photos to use as subject matter and have already done one small painting.  I guess it wasn't too bad considering I haven't picked up a brush in about 25 years.  I'm self taught, and have found several good lessons on line.  So.....here we go!

Dave seemed to be impressed with the first one...he says it looks like a scene from the Moorlands.  That certainly gave me a boost since that's the subject I was trying to paint.  I suppose if someone recognises what you've painted..you just may be on the right track..right?

This coming Friday we're going to go to our grandson's first birthday.  It seems like we're having several "firsts" recently.  Sunday was Rememberence Day here.  It's the equivalent to Memorial Day in the US.  There were church services and a parade through our town.  That was another first for me.  Remembering the troops has always been important to me...and it was interesting to take part in the day in my adopted country.

For the most part, it has been a very good year.  We're very very happy, and yes I do miss some things about Tulsa...mainly the Autumn...it's always been my favourite time and I think I'm feeling a little nostalgic.  I miss the brilliant colours on the trees.  There's colour here, but not like in Tulsa....

We're also starting to make our plans for our visit back to Tulsa next September.  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone...but NOT looking forward to getting up at 3am to start those long flights.

Time to close this book.  I'll. write more later.