Thanks for the SW Paddler info esp. I've spent several days canoe/camp on the Buffalo River in Ark once, and returned just for camping not too many years ago. Buffalo is outstanding. You sent LOTS of good info in that website! We will be exploring this! Did you ever hear the musical group (Haynes family) called Zemer Levav? They moved from KS to FL, but I do try to keep up with their music. Just thought you might know of them if lived in area of Wichita or Winfield, KS.

How about a treasure hunt. You make up clues and they hunt all over your property for the items, at the end the one that gets the most wins a special prize, but grammy provides prizes for all who participates. I usually go to joanns and buy some crafts for them to do and they love that. Using our camcorder we make a movie to take home for the parents to see what grammy went thru. I only see my grandkids once a year so just being there with them no matter what we do is fun.

Also, I just wrote my best bud, who lives in Stillwater. Asked her for Perkins loc info.

I sure do remember doing this as a youngster, having a slumber party, and sending 'teams' out to collect specific from all around. My brother might have had one also at some time or another. Memory vague! ...lets see, button (now velcro), raggedy washcloth (now paper toweling), shoe lace (ditto above), rock (welll, at least some things don't change!), ...
:-)

DH is heading out to pick more wild plums, to put up jam. He already had picked on July 4 & 5, and put up 16 jars. Has three containers more of the cooked juice ready to process into jelly in frig, but he wants more. So, off he goes. Had not been able to pick very many last couple years, due to late freezes which zapped the blossoms! This fabulous rain has been making the best plums! Big and juicy. He's "makin hay while the sun shines!" Monday he let the pot boil over, and made (truly) the worst mess I ever saw in my kitchen. It's OK now...don't want a repeat! WISH the kids were here to watch and learn from him today!!! Maybe he'll consider freezing some juice and let them watch him do the rest...hope so. This is one HIS memories of his folks. They did lots of canning, freezing, etc. in the summer.

I believe that that sparks a memory, I remember seeing Brian Bowers, and some others, my (now-ex)in-laws always went with us and everyone had a great time. I spent most of my time in my booth at the time I was into weaving and spinning. It's been a long time and alot of miles beneath my feet since then.... Sometimes when it gets windy it makes me home sick for OK!!! Isn't that amazing... There's lots of great stuff to do.

You were/are a WEAVER? Me too...but no loom room! My other "fiber arts" take entirely TOO much room as it is. Dream of having room...but not too likely...
Oklahoma is HIGHLY underrated...it is wonderful. We have east and west all right in this little location. VERY interesting history. Did you ever, by chance, go the Oklahoma Historical Museum. It was in an old old loc till a few years ago. New loc now. Wonderful reference Library...not dark and gloomy like before. If you get this way, it is immediately east of the Capitol building (we have a dome now too - finally). I LOVE OUR ART MUSEUMS!

I need to get those kids to Ponca if I get north for Woolaroc...to that mansion.

My DD is nine and she loves to do decopage. We have some items from a company called Decopatch, but really you just need some paper mache shapes from a craft store and some wrapping or tissue pacer with a big pot of PVA School Glue!

Hugs

There were several post about stepping stones, If they make two each, you can have one and they can take one. They are so pretty in flower beds, we use things found on nature treasure hunts and marbles, stones, gems and such,plus their names. Last week I took mine to Sportsman Lake park, they have a new pier, and we had a picnic lunch( Kentucky Fried Chicken) and fed the fish bread from the Merita bread store, their old bread(feed quality) is free for the asking, all weekend they have talked about the park and when we will go again.Tea parties are a hoot, baking cakes and decorating rate high on my kids list. They love to paint the little plaster of paris figurines that Walmart has or the sun catchers, I think a box set is like $10. WM has a lot of cheap craft items. The best time mine have had at Nana's was a Beauty pageant, I had a suitcase full of old dresses some from the 30's& 40's and most 60's & 70's that I sent, they all dressed up, even the boys, and slathered on tons of makeup and red lipstick and old wigs and they held a talent/ beauty pageant and videoed it. We still laugh ourselves to tears watching that one. My kids love their Nana and 9 times out of 10 she doesn't spend a dime, its just that she does everything with them, the walk down to her creek is just the best according to them, you'd swear they were visiting the Grand Canyon. They even fall over each other to help her clean up. Go figure.I know you are excited, have a blast. Sorry I didn't realize I had prattled so long :oops:Almost forgot : Homemade popcorn balls w/ molasses and cornflake candy you can't forget those and my kids said to add a weiner/ marshmellow roast also.