HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.. MY ANN........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATHRENE ANN SHAKLEE MOFFAT.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YA.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY ONE MORE TIME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALL AROUND, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ONE AND ALL, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WIFE, MY LOVE, MY ANN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU AND MANY MANY MORE!! stan

Just wondering.....

How Uncle Ivan and Aunt Freda are doing? How their health is, how they are getting along?

How Uncle Calvin and Aunt Agnes are doing in California.. how the treatments are coming?

How my cousin in law Clinton Wilson is doing?

How my niece Cortney is doing and is she moved in with Jeff yet??? hummmm... just wondering....

Wondering how Ward and Melanie are doing? What they been up to???

How Uncle John and Aunt Timer are doing?

Just wondering... if you see any of these nice folks, have them drop us a line with update, please???

Andrew came by yesterday...

Ann and Jake were on their way to the store yesterday morning, when they looked out the front window, and being blown around was Heather and Andrew. They came by to visit and Heather was going to help Paul put tin on their goat barn, so Andrew stayed with us and played with Jake a lot. He ate a lot of chicken "legs" for lunch and crawled up on the sofa and took a big long nap. His mom brought by his "train tapes" that we got him for Christmas so we could watch them... 100 years of Lionel Trains... what a deal, the only toy company in America that survived for 100 years!! Sure brought back lots of memories!! My cousin Larry Moffat had one and I always thought how cool he was, cuz he had one!! It was really neat. I can still hear the whistle and smell the smoke pellets that one put in the stack of the engine to make smoke and I can remember just laying on the floor and watching it go round and round. That was really neat to this ole farm boy who had few toys at home!! It really was neat then to go with Dad and Mom to the Train station in El Reno and put the cream cans on the train to go to Enid, and pick up the empty cans and take home. I can still remember how big the trains were, how they smelled, the engineers out on the walk by the trains with their huge oil cans with long spouts, the conductor's cry when it was time for the passengers to board, the big tall wagon we put the cans on so the guys could pull them along side the train cars and roll them onto the train. And I can still see the Santa Fe slick diesel passenger trains too... Goodness what a deal!!
Anyway, Andrew brought along his two new trains, and he played and played. He also brought his new video game, and Jake played and played it!! haha.. my boys.. got to love them!!!
All for now. Gonna have a Bday party for Ann this evening and expecting our home to start filling after lunch with company... how cool... I have the best family in the world!!!

Here she is, our new Ms. America!!! Madison Ann Blankinship!!!

Here she is... Ms. Madison Ann Blankinship, daughter of Paul and Heather Blankinship,and sister to Andrew Paul! She is on her way... we are so excited!!!!
Posted by PCCPA

and here is a second view of our new Grand daughter on her way..... to be with us all!!
Posted by PCCPA

Another view of Madison Ann.....
Posted by PCCPA

A quote on success that I love.....

"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic."

amen!

Uncle Ivan sent this note along... A Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.

12 Days of Christmas
From: Robert J. Skinner (Story Research Expert for Inspirationlist.com)

The 12 Days of Christmas

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

Today I found out, thanks to the Internet.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church.

Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self
Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.

Austyn came to visit yesterday for a couple of hours..

How great it is when the grandkids come by, even for a few minutes.. and the kiddos too. Austyn stopped by and had lunch with us while his Mom took Holiday Lunch to Phil's work in Cushing, OK. He was wound up like an 8 day clock! Had a great visit and he played and played. Goodness, it would be awesome to have that much energy again!!
Got to get ready for the big day tomorrow... Ann's Birthday!! YES, for a few days, she is older than I am, and I think that's cool, however, it sure does not mean what it used to mean!! haha...
Her brother Mike and David and Terry Shaklee are coming down for a while tomorrow night too.. looks like a big time for all. I hear there's going to be Ann's homemade Chili.. and lot's more goodies.. and all the kiddos and grandkids too... how sweet it is to get together again... bet Kaitlyn has grown a foot....
Heard through the grapevine that Heather and Paul are going to try to put new tin on their "goat" barn today, and that we might get to watch Andrew, but I also heard the wind is to blow between 20 and 40 miles an hour till about 2pm today.. so .. hope they can!
Poor OSU... I don't think they had their mental game face on at all. If I were athletic director, I think I would be having a loonngg talk with Coach Miles today! The boys have the talent, and then some. Sometimes, it falls on the shoulders of the leaders to "get the troops ready". Just an opinion!! Everyone is praising the defense of Ohio, hummmm, not hard to do when the offense isn't mentally on the field!!
Oh well, we still have some opportunities in the Big 12 to shine, just have to see how the coaches get their boys ready, huh?
Wow, 70 today and only 61 for low last night. Guess we have moved to south Texas??? But just wait, this is Oklahoma, and it can change on a dime!
Let's keep the folks who lost loved ones, etc overseas in our prayers, I heard it's up to 114000 today.
and let's remember and keep our soldiers in our thoughts in prayers too. Without them and the ones before them, we would not be writing this in a free country, nor would you be able to read it!!
All for now... enjoy the day!! If you have a thought or commment, send it to me, of just click on the comments button at the end of this post and leave a note please??

How it was........

Clipping of the Day

From the Evening Herald (Syracuse, N.Y.), 31 December 1899, page 4:

The wonders of the century are shown in the telegraph and telephone, steam and electrical appliances, the printing press, the photograph and a thousand and one new inventions and devices, many of which annihilate time and bridge over space. At the recent centennial of the death of Washington the progress in a hundred years was illuminated. When Washington died at Mount Vernon, although the city was but fifty miles away, it was not until the third day after on the strength of a business letter statement received at Baltimore, the fact was announced in the newspapers. A rumor of it was received in Philadelphia on the fourth day, but the news was not definite until the fifth day. Two days later, New York heard of it, but it was not till twelve days had elapsed that Boston knew it. When Vice President Hobart died the facts were telegraphed around the world in half an hour, and when Bismarck and Gladstone closed their careers it was speedily announced in all the lands. Every day now the important events in the Philippines and in South Africa are told in the newspapers of the day of their occurrence. When the presidential conventions shall be held next summer their results will be at once wired throughout the earth.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Abe Lincoln says....

"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

--Abraham Lincoln

A quote from artist Vincent Van Gogh.....

The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others

-Vincent Van Gogh

From Clinton and Joanna Wilson... This is Priceless!!

WHAT IS A GRANDPARENT?
(taken from papers written by a class of 8-year-olds)

Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of her own. They like other people's.

A grandfather is a man grandmother.

Grandparents don't have to do anything except be there when we come to see them. They are so old they shouldn't play hard or run. It is good if they drive us to the store and have lots of quarters for us.

When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.

They show us and talk to us about the color of the flowers and also Why we shouldn't step on "cracks."

They don't say, "Hurry up."

Usually grandmothers are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes.

They wear glasses and funny underwear.

They can take their teeth and gums out.

Grandparents don't have to be smart.

They have to answer questions like "why isn't God married?" and "How come dogs chase cats?".

When they read to us, they don't skip. They don't mind if we ask for the same story over again.

Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have television, because they are the only grown ups who like to spend time with us.

They know we should have snack-time before bedtime and they say prayers with us every time, and kiss us even when we've acted bad.


A 6 YEAR OLD WAS ASKED WHERE HIS GRANDMA LIVED. ''OH,'' HE SAID, ''SHE LIVES AT THE AIRPORT, AND WHEN WE WANT HER WE JUST GO GET HER. THEN WHEN WE'RE DONE HAVING HER VISIT, WE TAKE HER BACK TO THE AIRPORT.''

1906 Law Lifted..... limits on tribe lifted... a bit of history....

PAWHUSKA (AP) — Clark Batson’s mother gave him his Osage blood, but it is President Bush who has made him feel more Osage than ever.
“I’m a real Indian,” the 28-year-old announced to friends Dec. 3, the day the president signed legislation lifting 98 years of federal limits on who can
be an Osage citizen. The tribe may now welcome thousands of people who, like Batson, are of Osage descent but were denied Osage citizenship under a 1906 federal law. There’s a major hurdle, though:After nearly a century under the old law, the Osages must first decide who the Osages are. “Before today,” says Jodie Revard Satepauhoodle, one of eight tribal council members, “Congress decided.” That Osages are just now receiving
rights held by every other federally recognized American Indian tribe is a reflection of a unique history — and the tribe’s legendary wealth. In allotting the tribe’s land in northern Oklahoma, Congress granted 2,229 Osages a share in a commonly held mineral estate. Only Osages who held
these “headrights” could vote in tribal elections. When the waves of golden prairie yielded a vast oil field in the early 1900s, the headright owners became some of the richest people in the world. Osages rode in chauffeur-driven limousines, lived in mansions and studied at exclusive schools. A string of murders in the 1920s was tied to attempts by non-Indians to claim headright shares. But the oil field has become marginal. Inheritance has fractured the headright shares. When Osages need scholarship money to attend college or seek employment through minority job programs,
those without headrights can’t meet the required proof of tribal membership. The tribe’s government represents only about 4,300 of the estimated
20,000 people of Osage descent, says Principal Chief Jim Gray. The old federal law created a class system that he likens to a time when only landowners could vote in U.S. elections. “Never underestimate the social impact of inclusion on a society,” Gray says. “I think this process will give
people a sense of self respect and self confidence.” Tribal leaders in the past had little incentive to push for change with an electorate of headright owners. A court ruling that was eventually overturned opened up membership between 1993 and 1997, giving many Osages voting rights for the first time. In 2002, new tribal leadership swept to victory on promises to push Congress for a change. Mark Freeman Jr. said it was the reason he decided to run for tribal council at age 82. He didn’t have a vote until age 73, when his mother died and he inherited a headright share. “The pride in that didn’t make up for the loss of my mama,” he says, echoing a sentiment shared by other Osages whose voting rights came only when a
parent died. Some Osages believe membership,should be based on the tribal rolls of 1906. Others have suggested only Osages who know the names of their original clan and band be included. Others have suggested membership based upon blood quantum, even DNA testing, Satepauhoodle says.
No matter what, she says, “Osages will decide who’s Osage. You don’t need a constitution or a roll.” The new law, sponsored by Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., and unopposed in Congress, leaves the issue of headrights untouched. For Batson, membership could mean the ability to legally use peyote in the Native American Church where he worships and to receive protected eagle feathers for use in traditional dances. He’s eager to have a voice in a tribe whose economic development he believes could be helped by participation from younger Osages. “In other tribes, their youth are involved. They’re helping build things up,” he says. “We couldn’t if we wanted to.” A celebration is planned Feb. 4 on the tribe’s campus in Pawhuska to start
the process of reinventing the Osage. Gray would like to see a referendum on tribal membership by the end of next year and eventually a constitutional convention. He is hopeful the tribe will avoid the divisiveness that came with the court decision in the mid-1990s but acknowledges
the process will be “slow, painful and complicated.” “It is democracy in action,” he says. Gray points to another precedent — the homecoming each June when Osages gather on the reservation for three weekends of dancing known as ELon-schka.There, no federal entity has ever decided who sits around the drum. “That’s why I hold out hope,” he says. “If we can do that, we can handle this.”

This is a rare old photo find for us! It has in it near the left post in center of photo, grandfather Shaklee, Peter Worthington Shaklee and his wife, Artlissa and then in the middle with white beard about two rows back is George shaklee and his wife Delia, brother of Peter Worthington Shaklee. George was born in 1863 and Peter in 1851.
Posted by PCCPA

What one does.....

"What you do when you don't have to, determines what you will be when you can no longer help it."

--Rudyard Kipling, 1868-1936

a man's character shows through....

Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at.

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Son Phil sends this note along to all...

Asian Quake Felt in Oklahoma

Shock waves from the deadly earthquake that killed thousands in Indonesia were felt in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey says shock waves were recorded in Tulsa County starting at 7:13 Saturday night.

The 9-point-oh magnitude quake in Indonesia hit 15 minutes earlier.

Jim Lawson with the Geological Survey says the shock waves may have caused water in ponds and lakes to slosh slowly. He also says some tall buildings in the state may have swayed slightly.

The number of dead in the quake is now approaching 40-thousand. The 9.0 magnitude quake is the strongest since a 9-point-2 quake on March 28th, 1964, in Prince William Sound in Alaska.

It's the fourth strongest since recordings of magnitude began in 1899, tying a 1952 quake in Russia.


Here is a link to the Oklahoma Geological Survey Earthquake division... check it out, it's cool...

This is Great Grandma Moffat with Kaitlyn's new quilt that she made for her. Mom was rather proud of it, and we are all proud of Mom. Not an easy thing to do at any age, but at 85, it is quite a feat. And it is excellent! She did goooood... according to Kaitlyn's parents... and the rest of us too.....

Think this pic is represents the newest things in our family.. Heather and Paul are having Madison Ann in April or May and Aunt Heather is holding niece Kaitlyn, our newest addition at Christmas... How sweet life is. Both are amazed at what the boys are doing in the next room!!! Enjoy the day....

Durning Christmas, one can never ever stop being proud of one's kiddos.... haha... here Phil entertains us with a new scarf..... haha... enjoy the day....

Thought for the day...

One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody, everything, every night before you go to bed.

-Bernard M. Baruch

Here's Ann and her brother Mike Shaklee from Helena, OK. What a joy to have Mike visit with us over the holidays!!

Photo by Mike Shaklee of the Moffat's at Christmas, 2004, at Great Grandmother Moffat's.

What a wonderful Christmas 2004 was had by this family!!

I knew the day was going to be awesome due to the fabulous sunrise that God provided on the anniversary of the birth of his Son. I was not to be denied!!
Ann's brother Mike came down for the Farm at Timberlake, and stayed with us a few days. That was great! Then Christmas morning at our home... was fantastic! The kiddos and family's started arriving about 8:30 with the arrival of Jonathan, Randi and Kaitlyn Moffat from Roff. Then Phillip, Tammy, and Austyn arrived... and then a bit later, Paul, Heather and Andrew arrived and the sharing of Christmas began. It was awesome watching the kiddos open their gifts. They are a hoot! The joy that comes over one's face can not be duplicated anywhere by anyone. The expression of the moment, one of inner honesty, is a site to see. After sharing, we headed to Great Grandma Moffat's to celebrate there. We started by singing happy birthday to Jesus, and then enjoying one of the great traditions of our family, eating a feast at Christmas, and it was just that. Wonderful food, made by caring ladies in the kitchens of their families and shared with us... wow.. Then more sharing, a quick time to take family photos, thanks to Mike being with us... and then home to wish we had not ate so much...haha...
Anyway.. a wonderful wonderful Christmas was had by all!!
Now to try to get off these extra pounds added from setting in a chair for 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, trying to get the kids Christmas done.. haha yeah, it's not the hand to mouth thingy that gets ya, it's the setting.. haha.. I wish..
Have a great day, enjoy the time with your families, as this is the time of our lives, the time that builds memories we can enjoy as we get older....
Enjoy the day!! And each other!!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Hope it's your best ever, and that are your wishes have come true. This was our gathering last Christmas. Just wanted to share it with everyone in the family.

M e r r y C h r i s t m a s, to one and all!!

Merry Christmas from the Jonathan Moffat's.....

Click Here..... to see our Merry Christmas wish from Jonathan, Randi, and Kaitlyn Moffat ... We received this in the email this am. How great to see pics of the kiddos... wonderful feelings happening... haha... What a great day this is, celebrating the birth of Christ, and honoring that day by being with our whole family. WOW!

Merry Christmas to everyone, near and far!

Enjoy the day!

Mr. Andrew Paul Blankinship dropped by last evening along with his Mom, Heather, to visit. He and Ole Jake got into building a city, complete with various businesses, including a hotel, gas place, eating place, a big tower place, and many other types of businesses!! You can let your mind wander, and you might be correct, as Jake was helping him!!

Things ... goings on, etc.

Well, let it be said that before I died, I shopped for my lovely bride on a day besides Christmas eve!! YES, kind folks... every since I have been married, I have a tradition of heading to town at 3 - 4 pm on Christmas Eve to shop for the love of my life, Ms. Ann. It is such a hoot... having done it so many years.. 32 years now, and living in the community for over 44, that most of the old stores in town know the family, or I. A favorite place to visit is Katz Dept Store, that is shutting it's doors on Dec. 31 of this year, after starting in 1889 in Stillwater, OK. Most any one who has attended OSU in Stillwater has shopped there, and Katz has raised many Stillwater families!! It sure has ours, and Ann was heart broken when she learned it was closing. But this aside, Dennis Silvers has worked there since Ann and I were married in 1972. I opened us a charge account at Katz, when Barbara worked there and the credit dept was a ledger file on a desk in the back of the store, and started making regular Christmas eve visits there, and then to other stores... so now the old merchants were really surprised to see me before Christmas eve.. yesterday!! What a hoot to go on a different day... and see the reaction of those I have known for a long time!
Then when I got back home, what to my surprise should be in my home, but my lovely daughter and son, Heather and Andrew. Ann made us some great chicken and dumpling for dinner, and it was enjoyed by all. We almost cleaned it all up! Then Andrew and Jake started playing around. Jake downloaded some games on the computer, thanks to son Jonathan's help, and Jake showed Andrew how to play them. Now he wants to play them all the time.. well, almost all the time!!
Seems as though Ann was not through shopping and at this writing, she and Jake are in town finishing up Christmas Santa shopping. But .... MINE is DONE!!!
It's been really cold here, about 6 degrees here this am, and the floor is even cold in our home... but things will warm up, as my brother in law Mike is coming down to stay with us overnight and for tomorrow's dinner with Mom Moffat at her home. It's been rumored that Santa will come here first so the kids and their kids will get together here in mid morning to check out what was left, and then we are off to rake in our goodies at "Grandma's" home!!
Jake reports the cattle are all taking in the weather ok. He had to chop ice on the ponds in all pastures yesterday. We have one small 80 acre pasture that has a big creek running through it and in all the years we have owned it, we have never had to chop ice! Then last summer, our neighbor up stream, built a big pond, and the creek is all but dried up this winter, according to Jake. Geeze... love to see the new pond, hate to chop ice. When I had the feed store, I had some old timers who came in when weather was like this, and they did not want to chop ice either, and they would buy blocks of white salt and put along the edges of their ponds. As the block of salt melted in the water, it kept the water from freezing and the cattle and deer and other livestock could always get water. Not sure how that helped the pond environment!
I have made contact with Carlyle Trabant's extended family and might have some things coming soon about him and what he did throughout his life. I know it is too late to share with Dad, but he was Dad's best friend when growing up and Dad and he had their picture taken in the "old hoopie" dad called it, before they left for Galveston, TX in the summer of 1936, about a year before Dad father died. More on this as things develop. I know my kids saw this picture on the wall in the rooms where dad was before his death, and now we can find out "the rest of the story"!
Carlyle's parents, his father George, was well thought of by both Mom and Dad, and he was also the minister that married them at Mt. Zion Church.
Looks like this has turned into a long note.. sorry for that. Will try to keep them shorter.. haha.. you all know I am kidding, right??
Received a Christmas card with a wonderful note inside from Uncle Ivan and Aunt Freda yesterday. Very wonderful to get news from them. I wish to thank them for the hand written note inside too. They have had a tough year, with the deaths of Ivan's brothers, Oscar and then John, and a nephew Leon. Plus their health has not been the best, so if you get a chance do remember them this Christmas season in your prayers, and Uncle Calvin and Aunt Agnes Siegrist need to be remembered in prayer too, he is in California undergoing a new treatment for prostate cancer. It is the latest in high tech at work.
And a wonderful Christmas card from my niece Cortney. She is so awesome. She has such a good memory! And in her life, things are changing around a bit, and her and Jeff are now seeing a lot of each other, soon to be more, I hear!! haha.. Love ya, kiddo... We wish your Mom Happy Holidays too..
Guess that is all for now. Enjoy the day, take time to smell the roses...

This is a Photo that was taken on Dec. 4, 1949, that we ran across working up the Shaklee albums.... This is Ann's mom, Mary Cathrene, with kiddos frt row, Mike and David and next to her Cathrene Ann, and Ward on her lap. Photo was 55 years ago... not long for a high stepper!! haha... Enjoy the season, the years they go by fast!!

Look who come to play with Jake today!! Yes... Ole Austyn dropped by and spent the morning with us. He and Jake had a big ole time play... Austyn brought his new keyboard and he and Jake had a hoot making up songs, etc. And then it turned to.... playing around.. haha...

Hey, Moffat kiddos.. Al Rutledge is still producing top quality Angus cattle...

Payne County Cattle Producer Al Rutledge does it again, and again...

Angus bull leads test... (well of course, he was born and bred in Payne County!)

Senior age bulls at Panhandle State University’s beef bull test are led by an Angus with an ADG of 7.14 pounds. The bull is consigned by Al Rutledge of Stillwater.

Wow.. check that daily gain... oh my goodness.... Paul, tell your Dad... !

The true meaning of Christmas, by Paul Odle

Paul Odle is from Yukon, OK. He is about 10 years my senior and is in the Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center. He has been diagnosed as Morbidly Obese. He can not walk. Somehow, I ended up on his mailing list, and this was in my email box this afternoon. I wanted to share it with you. If you would like to send him a Merry Christmas wish, his email is paul_odlesr@yahoo.com. I know he would love to hear from anyone who wishes to share a joyful thought!



An Early Christmas Story
My Christmas experience that opened my eyes...

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving. It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra
time so we could read in the Bible. After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at
one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up,but I didn't know what. Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up
beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever
it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on. After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood -- the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" "You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd
been by, but so what? "Yeah," I said, "Why?" "I rode by just today," Pa said.

"Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt."

That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. "Shoes. They're out of shoes. Little Jakey just
had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy." We rode the two miles to the Widow Jensen’s pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big
woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? The Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it
shouldn't have been our concern. We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible. Then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, “Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt. Could we come in for a bit?" he Widow Jensen opened the door to let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. The Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and
finally lit the lamp. "We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children -- sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out. "We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat, and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled
around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people. I soon had the fire blazing and everyone’s spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and the Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us." In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after the Widow Jensen mentioned it I could
see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it. Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes. Tears were running down the Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine. At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if
he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away. Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, 'May the Lord bless you,' I know for certain that He will." Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that.
But on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand." I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed
very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on the Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered. And remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

Ole Andrew doing his thang at his Christmas play last Friday night... One would never know that he was Heather's lil boy... or Paul's lil man....haha enjoy... pics are uploading will link asap....

Oh my, have you seen the forecast!!

Looks like we will be in for a bit of a cold snap the next few days. This is the week that contains the first day of Winter, and I for one will be glad to see it arrive, for this means that from that point forward, the days will be getting longer and Spring is not too far away. I do NOT like cold! Used to not mind, but things react differently to the cold now days.. haha.. or maybe it's just age!
Phil stopped by last night with some Christmas goodies... That Tammy is an awesome cook! She can "build" anything in the kitchen!! Phil was telling us about some of the Christmas partys they have been to and some of the things that Austyn has received... wow, I think I'd like to have those toys at MY AGE!! haha.
Jake and Ann went to Andrew's Play at the Hillcrest Baptist Church in Stillwater last Friday night and Jake was our Photographer for the night and he got some great shots. I will try to post them online later today, as I get time.
Jake had been helping Grandma Moffat with her livestock this fall and doing a really great job. He has a keen eye for handling cattle and is really finding them to be a joy. He is also helping our neighbor Fred Shultz who has one of the most inovative cattle operations in the world! Fred uses computer patches on the cattle to check for heats to bred AI at the correct time, and with a 90% first bred conception rate, one can not argue that it's a waste of money! He has one cow, ole 147, who put him on the map. This cow is truly the best Maine Cow in the bred in terms of dollars generated and phenotype. He has sold over a million dollars worth of babies out of her, for real, and her offspring has won over a million and half dollars worth of prize money from the show ring. He was harvesting embroys from her when others where only learning about it. Now this past week, he has signed on board with a special company back East to provide him "Clones" of 147 in 21 months, 2 weeks, and 3 days from today! Jake and I are really excited about his operation and can't beleive it is right across the road from Mom's. Oh, so close, so I go and visit once in a while, just to be neighborly, and see what the latest and greatest is!! Needless to say, his theory is ... quality first, then numbers.. He was telling Jake and I the other day that he is so innovative that he just got through "visiting" with the Federal Boys over the last three years, and he had to write a glossary of terms for them so they could understand what his "Farm" does and what the product is... Now, that is cutting edge!
We kept Andrew this past Sunday while his momma and her mother in law and sister in law made their annual trip to T Town to shop. It was a blast. He and Jake are two peas in a pod!! He loves his Jake buddy... and they play very well together. Andrew and he have been playing games on the computer, and sometimes from listening, it is hard to figure out who is winning..haha..
Ann is off starting today, for the next two weeks. She is really happy to. It seems as time goes on, the Peter Principle takes hold even stronger with her office. She works for a multi milllion dollar company, that sends it's boss over seas on business trips with a big group of folks couple times a year, to places they do not do any business with. And it goes on and on... It is unbelieveable the waste in big business... ok, better quite for now about that.. haha..
Have not heard from Jon, Randi and Kaitlyn. I'm guessing they are still alive. Will see them over Christmas and am really excited about that! On their trip before last going home, they left here at dark thirty, and about 10:30pm our phone goes off, I answer and it's Jonathan... Well, dad, you only thought I might go to sleep.. let me tell you what an eventful trip home we had...(now this was still better than what the call could have been about!!!) He went on to tell about how a car parked on the side of the road seen at a distance by Jon, while rounding a curve, looked like it was parked in his lane.. (think we all have done this one!), and then later on near Strafford, they had a big bird, owl, probably fly into their car, and they had to stop in Strafford and clean off the car... yuck!! and WOW.. needless to say, Jon was wide awake when I was talking to him!!!
Paul is going on days for the first time in years at the SPD. He is really looking forward to it, but I bet he and the family will have some adjusting to do, but I bet in the end, they will love have Dad a home in the evenings... Andrew does love his daddy!! Andrew said "I have pigs at my house. I pet them. I feed them. we eat them" ... haha.. he understands!! Heather reported they will be having baby Boer Goats starting about the time she has Madison Ann... end of April or first of May. OH MY, ANN and I are REALLY excited about this deal of being grandparents... truly are!! But I goofed. I had Heather bring by her picture of Madison, and I messed it up when scanning it, so you guys will have to wait to see her till I get another scan of it in a few days..... but will post as soon as she brings her picture back by...
Ok.. this is too long.. Like they say on Fox news.. if this is not your cup of tea, turn the channel, or hit the off button. hahahah...
got to run, lots to do... want to end on this, Jake removed the old storage building south of our home that the storm messed up years ago, and sawed down a tree or two and made it look AWESOME!! He's wonderful!!!

What welcome mail today.....!!!

I received a letter from Uncle John Emmett Schmook today in the mail. How wonderful it is to get mail from family!! And distant family too!! He sent a note about the history of the Kieffer/Schmook family and it will be include in the kiddos Christmas gifts this year too. I think Ann's Cousin Connie is sending us a care package too. Got our family Shaklee December Newsletter from Bill Shaklee. How awesome he is to take time to put together such a great family news letter. He puts one out about 10 to 12 times a year, and really spends a lot of time on the history, and family updates as the family grows.. wow.. thanks Bill for all you do to keep the history going!! Thanks Uncle John for your great letter regarding the family history.
And by the way, my dearest Cortney.... have I got a deal for you. I have found gold. Some of your early pics from the farm... hahah.. just what Jeff needs to see.... now let's see, what do I put online first.. hummmmmmm..... hahahha...

Merry Christmas, one and all.... Enjoy the season!!

Wanted everyone to know there are.....

There are a lot of new "old family photos" online regarding the Shaklee Family History, Schmook and Kieffer, too.... In the album titled Shaklee Family Photos.. there are sub albums with even more photos.. and after the holidays, there will be even more photos.. when Uncle Mike comes down and trades with us... enjoy the season.. it's God's gift to us... to celebrate the birth of his Son!!

Finally getting to Ann's side of the family...haha..

Here in this one photo is a lot of Oklahoma, and Missouri History! In the picture on the back row are: Emmet Deforest Kieffer, John Anthony Poppa Jack Schmook, Honorable John Schook, and Alto H. Hickox Schmook. In the front row is Reuben Hickox, Mary Cathrene Schmook, Cora Faye Kieffer Schmook, Anna Billman Kieffer, and Mary Cathrene "Kate" Anthony Hickox.
Electric went off... darn it, lost all I had typed blow this... and trying to load pics.. wow.. oh well, could have been worse..haha.

The Honorable John Schmook is written up in the history books for Missouri and his works are housed in the Springfield, MO. Library. He had a long and eventful life as a circuit judge in MO. His son Poppa Jack, as he was known by those who knew him, was a very good influence on all he come in contact with. He attended Military school. He raise 3 great kiddos.. Mary, Peggy, and John Schmook, all went on to live very full and rewarding lives, each in their own way.

Reuben Hickox was the first Postmaster for El Reno, OK. He also was the one who made the motion to call Canadian County .. that Canadian County in an official meeting of the government. He also was with 2 other men when the idea came up to call El Reno .. that El Reno. One of the other men soon left the area and went to New Mexico and became that new states first Governor. He was many more things, too. Hickox Addition, where the old High School is, is the homestead of theirs.

Mary Anthony was the daughter of Elizabeth Calhoun, who was the daughter of the Honorable John C Calhoun, of PA.

Their daughter Alto was working in a bank at the age of 16 when one of the notorious gangs that ran in the area robbed it.

and on and on... Great folks, salt of the earth and it wa the best thing that happened to me, when Ms. Ann said yes to my proposal of marriage!

But if you look at the new pics of the Shaklee family album that I am loading on net now, you will see how her folks received that idea.. think they are the first ones in the album.. Her Mom and Dad using me for target practice... haha.. No way.. hehe...

This is a scanned photo of the Fred O. Shaklee family. Pictured in back row is: Harold, Thelma, and Don, and in the front row is Fred, Merwyn, and Ida Edith Shaklee. This was taken around 1936. Enjoy the day!
Posted by PCCPA

Note the year... even in the old days, there were "personal" want ads....

From the Star and Banner (Gettysburg, Pa.), 15 December 1854, page 3:

"IN THE MARKET"

A young man whose wants in every other particular have been supplied, desires to form a matrimonial alliance for the purpose of securing himself complete happiness. His vocation enables him to support a wife in a proper manner; and he fancies he can secure comfort to any one who will confide her welfare to his keeping. He is in his 25th year, a good height, and passably good looking. He desires a young lady younger than himself, equal in personal appearance, one possessing a good education, and who understands something about household affairs. Communications will be perfectly confidential. Address.

How would this story have been told with today's technology???

From the Edinburgh Advertiser (Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland), 14 December 1802, page 6:

DUBLIN, Dec. 6.

"By the storm and inundation on Wednesday and on Thursday, in addition to the calamities mentioned in our last, the Backs, Weirs, &c. at Old Bawn paper mills, are entirely swept away. Nearly an acre and a half of Mr. Wildridge's meadow, adjacent to the mills, has been severed from the rest by the violence of the flood, and carried completely off! Besides the bridges at Ringsend and Coal quay, formerly mentioned, the bridges of Lucan and Celbridge have also been destroyed.

"Patrick street, Plunket street, Ball-lane, &c. were inundated to a great depth, and articles of furniture were seen floating through them with the current. Boats constantly plying there during Friday, saving such as were in danger, and supplying others with provisions.

"As the different rivulets rushed into the Liffey from the mountains about Kilcullen bridge, the river rose to such an alarming degree in this place, that the country people who lived near the banks took every precaution to guard against impending danger; still, however, cattle, trees, roofs of houses, millwheels, and small boats were soon observed passing with the current; two houses beyond Celbridge were inundated and swept away; the people who dwelt in one of them, providentially quitted in an hour previous, but three brothers who lived in the house became victims to the fury of the flood!

"The Law Courts in Dublin were overflowed, and business was obliged to be adjourned. The room in which the Barristers' gowns and wigs were kept overflowed to the depth of four feet, and ever thing contained in it was destroyed. Every hour brings to our ears some new disasters occasioned by this extraordinary misfortune....


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yiddish saying................

Old age, to the unlearned, is winter; to the learned, it’s harvest time.

-Yiddish saying

And "Uncle Henry Ford" says.....

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young."

--Henry Ford

How exciting.. opened up the ole email.. and a note from Cortney!!!

hi uncle stan! how are you doing? things here are going really well. i can't
believe christmas is almost here though!!! i have spent the past few
weekends trying to run around & do christmas shopping, buying a tree,
getting decorations and that kind of stuff. and the time is just flying by!

i will try to work on putting something together about my trip from italy. i
am still waiting on the pictures from my mom (i will swap copies with her
the next time we see each other) so that should help me some on taking notes
of what we did. so i will get on my assignment :)! and get back to you about
it. i don't mind if you put it online - i will just try to make sure i write
it so it all makes sense :).

and i mentioned to my mom that you wanted some of her family genealogy on
her side of the family. thanks for saying that you will add it to your
family genealogy and that you will send me a copy of it when it is done.
that would be great and i would appreciate it. thanks for giving me jon's
address again - it was the one that i had in my address book, i just wanted
to make sure my infor wasn't outdated. how are they doing with the new baby?
it must be such a huge change for them in their lives. are they getting any
sleep at night :)!?! i hope so.

i miss you all and send my love. take care and i will talk to you soon.
love,
cortney

and a second one too.....

hi again :). i just wanted to let you know that i forwarded this message
onto my mom's email so she can know all the specifics you needed on birth
dates & places and names so she will probably be getting in touch with you
about it all. (i also told her on the phone so she knows i emailed her :) ).
and you are right, her maiden name was servedio - i think that is the
correct spelling of it.

i am moving in this weekend - to jeff's. i kind of have already been there
the past two weeks but still need to get all my furniture moved in, which we
plan to do either friday or saturday of this weekend. i am excited about it.

hope all is well and i will talk to you later! please tell everyone hi for
me.
love,
cortney

OH... did I tell you guys that Heather called and this little ole sweet girl I used to have is going to have a baby....... yelp.. girl..hahaha Just wanted to share one of Heather's early pics with ya... enjoy the day!

IMPORTANT NEWS.... IT IS A ...........................

BREAKING NEWS..........


YES... IT'S A GIRL.... IT'S A GIRL.. IT'S A GIRL..... ANDREW WILL BE HAVING A SISTER JOIN THEM BEFORE LONG.. YA HOOOO.... IT'S A GIRL......

PAUL AND HEATHER BANKINSHIP WILL BE HAVING A GIRL JOIN THEIR FAMILY BEFORE LONG.. ANOTHER GRAND DAUGHTER.. HOW COOL..... ENJOY THE DAY....


JUST GOT THE CALL.. PICS WILL BE COMING SOON... YA HOO..

Look who dropped by last Friday night!! This is Heather Ann, her Mother In Law Joan Blankinship, and Andrew Paul Blankinship and Hannah Elizabeth Blankinship, Paul's brother's daughter! Just wanted to share!! Enjoy the day!

Andrew's Christmas Program this Friday night...

Friday 17th at 7:30

Andrew Paul Blankinship's Christmas Program will be at the Hillcrest Babtist Church; 902 North Washington Street; Stillwater, OK.


There will be a short program preformed by each class and then snacks and a visit from Santa...

Everyone is invited.... See you all there!

Heather

Welcome.......

The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say to him, "What are you going through?"

-Simone Weil

A Christmas Story, Enjoy~!

Click here to enjoy Santa's Story, Turn up the sound!!
Melanie sent this to us to enjoy!

How our family helped settle El Reno, and shape Oklahoma History!

Mary Catherine Anthony was born in Clearfield Co. July 28, 1853, and
married Reuben R. Hickox March 10, 1874. Mr. Hickox went to Indiana Territory in
1885 as agent for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians. He and his family were
in the "Run" with the "boomers" April 22, 1889, and were successful in landing a claim on which part of the city of El Reno now stands. They erected their canvas "tepee" or tent among a wild waste of prairie grass, where, now stands the red brick schoolhouse on Rock Island avenue, Hickox Addition. Rueben came up with the name for the county, Canadian, and was in the car with two others when the name El Reno came up and they decided to call the new town that... El Reno! He served as El Reno's first Postmaster.

These were "Poppa" Jack Schmook's mother and father. Ann's great grandfather and great grandmother.

These were the pioneers... and both sides of the Stan Moffat family have ancestors that are listed as just that... Pioneers of Canadian County, Oklahoma. What a deal, huh??? haha.. Enjoy the day! God's sending down his big ole smile in the way of beautiful sunshine this am...

A picture is worth a thousand words, especially a great one! This one says it all! .... ok, so I have taken ONE good pic in my whole life..haha.... enjoy the day!!!

Paul's memories......

I wanted to let you know that I somehow got on Mr. Odel's mailing list, and I have found it very interesting. It is not about our family, but his home is Yukon, same as what I call home. There is about 10 years difference in our ages, and the things he lived through, I can still remember my parents talking about! When I started school, and only then, did I come to realize other kiddos around me did not eat meat like we did. Some could not believe we had meat once or twice a day, or bacon, etc... I can remember Dad and Mom saying that ole OLEO would kill ya... so Paul and I shared a bit of history together. He went to Yukon Schools, and I did to for the first 7 years. He is now in a Vets home in Lawton, OK. and is morbidly obese.. I am close..haha.. I will not post all his things here, but only the ones that resemble my experiences. Enjoy!


Los Angeles 1941-1944
I was living in Los Angeles during the World War 11 days 1941 to 1944. My parents both worked for Lockheed Aircraft building P-38 bombers. At night every time a aircraft flew over the air raid sirens would go off and every one had to turn out their lights in their houses, pull the window blinds all the way down put out any cigarettes. There was an Air Raid Warden in every block and he better not see any type lights coming from your house. You would be arrested and pay a big fine. We went through this several times a night, The spot lights would go up on the Aircraft to identify it as friend or foe. Every household had pictures of friendly aircraft and unfriendly aircraft.

Everyone in the family had a ration book for that month. Every thing was rationed, meat, shoes, food, gasoline and sugar. You had to have a stamp for everything.

All of the beef, pork, chickens, bananas, sugar, most fruits, nuts, chocolate candy bars, especially name brands like Hershey bars, milky wave, snicker bars, butter fingers, chewing gum all went to the service men. A candy bar named ping came out during the war. If you had five cents you could buy any candy bar if they were available to civilian for five cents. Americans for

The first time learned to eat lamb that was just about the only meat you could by in the Grocery stores. Saturdays if you had a meat ration stamp you could stand in a long line in hopes that you could buy one beef roast. When the store start running out of roast those women would get into fights over who got the last of the roast.

After we moved off the ranch in New Mexico I never did see bacon, or real butter, Hershey bars, milky waves until we moved back to Yukon, Oklahoma in July of 1944. If you went to DUNNS GROCERY STORE in YUKON, OKLAHOMA at 7 a.m. you could buy a pound of bacon and a bunch of bananas and a pound of real butter. During the war they came out with white oleo that you had to add a package of colored powder and with your hands squesse that oleo until it was the color of real butter. Oleo was nasty tasting until you got oleo that looked like butter. That was nasty tasting stuff .

January 24, 1944 my only sister was born in a Hospital in Los Angeles, California on my parents 12th Wedding Anniversary. Grandma DOLLIE SANNER a friend of my Grandmother (ADDE ELIZA TICE) ODLE lived in Los Angeles with her son GEORGE SANNERS. She came to stay with us that week my mother was in the Hospital having a baby. We loved Grandma Sanners she would get down on the floor on her knees take a long piece of string and tie it¡¯s ends together and lay the string on the floor in a circle. We would but marbles in the center and she would shoot marbles with my brother BUD (ORVILLE LESTER ODLE) and me for hours. She would play rook cards and a card game called Flinch. One day that week in January 1944 Grandma Sanners and I was walking down first street past MIKE and ANNIES GROCERY STORE when to our surprise we saw one green banana in the store window priced at seventy five cents. We had not seen a banana since 1940. We kept walking by it and debating should we pay seventy-five cents witch was a lot of money back then for that green banana. We bought it and divided it into half¡¯s and ate it. I made a silent vowel to my self right then and there if I ever saw the day when bananas were plentiful again, I would buy them every day.

We lived in a brand new housing project called EL LISO VILLAGE it was about a block from the First Street Bridge in the roughest most dangerous part of Los Angeles. My best buddies were LARRY SMITH and LLOYD MORRIS. Larry was from Arizona and he moved with his parents after the war to Fontana, California. LLOYD MORRIS was from OKLAHOMA and he and his father JOHNNY MORRIS stayed in LA. LLOYD was in the Air Force the same time I was but I lost track of him. El LISO VILLAGE was built for government workers housing.

The picture shows would collect aluminum for the war drive. Back then your mother¡¯s cookware was aluminum your Grandma cooked out of cast iron or enamelware. You could bring one of your mom's aluminum kettles for the war drive and get in the picture show free, thus saving a dime. All that scrap metal went to build airplanes or ships.

Every one planted a ¡°VICTORY GARDEN,¡± in their front yard. By raising your own vegetables you helped the war effort. No one minded the sacrifices at home. Our Service Men and women were sacrificing their lives so we could live in freedom here in America. GOD BLESS OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN. AND GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS!

By Paul L.Odle, Sr.

Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center
P.O. Box 849
Lawton, Oklahoma 73502
1-580-354-3287
1-580-512-4767

Paul_OdleSr@yahoo.com

yelp....

The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.

-William James

What a quote!!

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sometimes in life....

Sometimes in life, things that make us the happiest, are the little things... that we don't even realize are occurring at the time! What a special moment this was, and you can see how special in Andrew's eyes! This photo was not staged, not set up! His face says it all! He is holding Hannah Elizabeth Blankinship, daughter of Chris and Jenniffer Blankinship, Cushing. Chis is Paul's brother, so Hannah is Andrew's cousin! Enjoy, the rest of the pics will be up later on!

I wanted to share this with family, as it is very special ..... about Fred O Shaklee, Harold O Shaklee's father!

From: Jerry and Connie LaGrow
To: Stan and Ann Shaklee

Got your email and will forward what I know later this weekend. Grandma's father's (Isaac J. Ward) barn is still standing east of North Enid. When I was a child he had this huge draft horses. His house was built back into a hill. You went in on the ground level and went out the back upstairs. There was a large wooden slat hammock swing between two trees in the front on the west of the house. I don't remember how old I was when he died but I do remember him and going to his house. Grandmother Shaklee (Ida Edith Ward Shaklee, Fred O's Wife, and Harold, Don, Mervyn, and Thelma's Mom) was the oldest of 4 or 5 girls and one brother. Grandma Edith was Grandpa's second wife. His first (Jessie L.Stebbins) died in child birth and her baby is buried in her arms in the cemetery in Enid. I have found the grave! Gm. had one sister that looked like her, Alma, she lived in Yukon and was probably closer to her than the others. There was Aunt Ethel, Aunt Maud Johnson, Aunt Mae, and Uncle Fred. Gm. loved to quilt and always had a quilt in her living room. She was the janitor of the Methodist church for years after Grandpa died and she lived in a house in Jet. She was a member of the Saline Lakeside Home Demonstration club. She was known in the church for her hot rolls and in the family for her macaroni and cheese. Gm. was a supporter of Oral Roberts and I took her over to the prayer tower once and she was awed by the sight of it and put her hand on the wall and said, "And to think that I helped build this with my offerings." She took a lot of flack from the family for her belief in his miracles.
Gm. also bought a lot of the small hymnals in the church with her tithe money. I saved one back for each of my kids with her hand writing in it. Gm.'s faith in her Savior made quite an impression on me! I can remember staying all night with she and Gp. and they always had their evening devotions before retiring to bed together and knelt on their knees beside their chairs for prayer.
She had one other child just slightly older than me but died when she was 5 years old. Her name was Mildred and is buried beside Gp. and her.
I will try and get some more information and mail it later. I hope this is what you kinda of wanted. I'll get her birth and death date later. If you have any information you could share with me I would appreciate it also about her or Gp. *Connie

*(LaGrow, Harold Shaklee's brother Don's oldest daughter, and Granddaughter of Fred O. Shaklee. Rec'd on 12/10/2004.)

Kaitlyn withdrawal time... yucky feeling... no Kaitlyn!!

Knew it was too good to be true, however, we will make it through this tough time. I know many of you are concerned about our condition, may have written in about it, talked with your family physician about our condition for us, studied hours on line looking for an answer, yet... we are starting to feel the pain really well! Yes, there will be no Kaitlyn this weekend. We will not get to see her for the first time on the weekend in 3 weeks!!! We will survive. We will endure!! We will pull through!! At least, we think we will!! What a day yesterday was... too. Jake off to help Uncle Mike. Ann kept Andrew, and he was a trooper! He really plays well by himself, and loves to watch the "good" cartoons on tv. He missed his Jake; however, he said "I can find those computer games, Grandpa", and I answered....... RIGHTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!! Later on, we had one of Grandma Moffat's Awesome HOMECOOKED meals... the kind that sticks to your ribs... haha like I needed it!! He cleaned up his plate, and then reported "I have long legs Grandpa", to which I replied, they only match the length of your tongue! Andrew's tongue was touching his nose the day he was born, I could not believe it.
Been working on some special Christmas projects. Not sure how special to others, but very special to me. I try to get up about 4 or so each am 7 days a week and have been doing this for about two months. It has taken me much longer than I thought, and been much more a labor of love and very rewarding for me. I have learned many things from this adventure, things I did not know throughout my 57+ years of life on this earth. Will write about this after Christmas.
Sorry, side stepped Andrew... haha.. Later in the evening Andrew's Grandma Joan and his mom Heather dropped in to pick him up, and, yes, my arm was twisted.. by Andrew's smile, as his cousin Hannah was with them, and I snapped a pic or two..haha, or three!! Will put those up later on today.
With Jake gone, our home is very quite!! And ole Marvin, our new yellow kitten that I named (sigh, can you tell...haha) is also spending the night at the Perkins Vet Clinic. Jake and Ann decided he needed to become a "nice" little boy kitten, so they took him to be ...... fixed!..... and also get his shots and his front nails removed. Glad my Great Grandma Moffat loved me enough not to "fix" me...hahaha... shu........ Goodness, don't tell her I said that! Anywho... Ann picks up ole Marvin this morning, and I bet he is ready to come home. Jake will be coming back tonight or in the am. One never knows with that boy when or what! He informed Ann and I he is never going to leave home, will stay and take care of us till we need help, then leave!! Little does he know how fast time will fly!
Now back to the original statement.. Kaitlyn is not coming up today.. darn... That pain is starting up again!! Jon, Randi, .... Kaitlyn.... haha... It really is awesome to have kids so close... all of them!!
Will try to update family birthday calendar with all the additions as I get them in. Sorry I missed Ky's, but did remember David and Kent Siegrist, and Austyn and Randi's this past week.
Have a great day everyone! We have a lot to be thankful for, but especially for this fact... God loves us, each and everyone! And in this season, we celebrate the love and birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, let's keep that in the front of what we are doing! Because he came, we are...! The celebration of the birth of the Saviour who gives us Eternal Life is awesome considering what HE gave us in return... Eternal Life everlasting, and forever!
Ok...off of soapbox, and no more sermons.. or rantings!!! Enjoy the day... it's gonna be awesome!!

Ky Shaklee turns 24 ..... or did turn 24 last Monday, Dec. 6th!

Ky, I messed up bad!! I had your birthday in the computer as june 12 instead of Dec 6... I was close! I have 6/12 instead of 12/6!! Guess it's an age thingy!!
Happy belated Birthday Ky!! Hope it was real special and you had a great day! May you have many many more! Hope you're having a great time in your new home in Nashville!! Tell Jade and Julia hi from all of us, too!!

Hey guys... Look who showed up in my email this evening... Really great to pop open the mail and discover a pic of family. This was taken at Ward and Melanie's Association Christmas Party. Thought we would pass it along and thank Melanie big time for sending it along!! .... Well my ole helper is off to Jet to work on fence with Mike on the land up there for a couple of days.. geeze, I might have to get off my large tail end and work.. oh no@@!!!! Enjoy... haha.. Oh by the way, a big happy birthday to another cousin.. Cousin Kent Siegrist has a big birthday in a few hours, and then all day Friday... Happy Birthday Kent, and many many more!! later guys..

Remembering a man.....

The best portion of a good man’s life: his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love.

-William Wordsworth

Happy Birthdays go out to David Siegrist today and to Kent Siegrist on Friday.. Happy Birthday, Cousin's!

Wanted to send a shout out to my cousins Kent and David Siegrist this week. Today is David's big 44 birthday, and Kent's big ole 47th bithday is this coming Friday, December 10th. Hope you guys have a really special birthday and many many more. Please keep us up to speed on your dad's treatments in Californina, please?? Again, here's hoping from all of us to you two.. have a great birthday!! David in the center of Siegrist family photo and Kent to his right, our left. Enjoy!

Special neighbors, The Kastl's celebrating 60 years!

We wanted to send a special shout out to Payne County Cattle Producers and farmers Emil and Pauline Kastle on their 60th Wedding Anniversary! Congrats to you all. You have a lot to be proud of!! and we are proud of You all! The south side of the section we live on was part of the Kastl family. Emil's mom lived on it when our family purchased it from them in the summer of 1960. On September 1, 1960, we moved to Stillwater from Yukon, and began farming and dairying in Payne County. Emil's mom lived in the home now owned by Marilyn. They milked cows in the barn that is still standing and cooled milk in the stream behind the barn. They live about 1 and 1/2 miles south of us on Brush Creek Road. They have a nice family, and have worked hard with their farm and have a really nice operation. You can buy Kastl's Quality Beef, Stillwater Grain Fed online and through Oklahoma Food Cooperative.

Austyn Lee Moffat had a big number 5 Birthday party last night at his home before the OU Super Victory! What a great time had by all. Again, we are so lucky to have everyone close enough to be able to get together. We all know that as the family grows and gets more involved there will be less and less time for such deals, but for now.. it is awesome! Austyn had a good time and I think he and Andrew played quite well, especially when no one was around!! Happy birthday Austyn! love you bunches... many many more!!

Want to not miss out on that important date???

Do not know if it is widely known, but one can join the yahoo site and then sign in to our family calendar and find anyones birthday, and have it send you reminders of the event at different times ahead of time so you will have a little help remembering... Just click on our family calendar link on this site and it will help you through the process.

I am sure I am the only one who can not remember things, but just in case... sometimes a little help never hurt anyone!!

Later.. have a great day, and enjoy the roses!!

Happy Birthday Randi!!!

And while we are at it... the newest mom in our family, and mother of the most fantastic Granddaughter in the World, Ms. Randi, is celebrating a big birthday too. Randi's was on December 3rd, yelp, yesterday! Happy Birthday Randi.. love ya bunches and hope you had a great day. See you all later on today!!

Happy Birthday Austyn!!

Austyn turned 5 December 1st, and TODAY, we celebrate his birth. I am fired up!! Get to see his new toy that is as big as his home, he called on his bday night and was really excited about a big new toy he got that goes with Power Rangers, I think... I am not very versed in toys so bare with me, haha... Think it was a big space ship or plane.. anyway.... I get to see it tonight and play with it if I can get Jake away from it...haha.. Big party at Phil's this evening.. and then, we will watch, or some of us will watch OU beat Colorado, and win the Big 12 Championship, and then, only one step away from their winning the national championship in College Football... Stoops may be the highest paid coach in all of college football, but stop and think for one second what he could earn in corporate america! We are lucky he loves kids!! and education... and winning, and discipline... He walks where very few men ever walk, or even would walk if they could. Can you imagine the pressure.. whew!!!

This is the mighty monster Jake at Kansas City Royal. We showed there several years and got the kids always made the sale there, even Jake!! Jake even got on TV at this show, as he was the youngest in the ring at the time and they were taking a video for the KC news, and he was being a boy, enjoying things and looking around the and next thing you know, he was hugging the neck of his calf, loving on him, turning around with the steer backwards in the show ring, talking to the folks behind him and it was soooooo cute, they filmed it and next am, after we arrived back at the steers at 3am, we set in the truck and watched on the tv the film of "the cute boy from Oklahoma who loved to show!"

Jon is below and this is Heather Ann. She could out show 'bout anyone in showmanship and won lots of honors with her animals. She would honestly disappear in the show ring! She was awesome to watch show. I remember Denver, when her calf won it's class and she was the third calf in the sale order, i asked her what she was thinking in the showring while showing,and she remarked rather casually... it was cool to be from Perkins Schools and be standing in that spot!

Not sure this will work but am going to try. Here are 3 pics from our familys past. We lived on the road for almost 8 years on weekends. We had as many as 12 steers on feed, and lots of lambs and pigs over the years. Each kiddo showed at some time, and showed all species. I do not have pics of Phil in this deal, but he showed as well, just not at the big shows like we learned to do after he started, but he had the Supreme Champion Angus Heifer of Oklahoma at the Oklahoma Junior Angus showed when he started with a heifer we raised by accident.. haha.. long story. Enjoy the photos.. more coming later as I get time.

Amazing what one will find if one just looks around... haha, especially my office!! Here is a pic of 4 generations of the ole Moffat's. Me, Dad, Austyn and Phil. Austyn's Birthday was Dec 1st, and we will be celebrating it tomorrow night, before the big game!! Go Sooners!!! Ok, I know, enough of that...haha. The saga of stan... Jake continues to work me butt off!! Yesterday he and I went to Mom's to load up some new babies to take to the vet clinic to work and you know what. The old baby sitter cow who was watching the babies while the rest of the herd came in, decided the young babies did not need to go to town.. haha, so she stayed in the pasture and just smiled and continued to eat hay with the babies while the rest of the cattle come into the pen, and of course I am sure she really enjoyed watching Jake and I make fools out of ourselves to them, thinking we could out smart them. Long story short, calves 1 - Jake and I - 0! So we stopped that deal, picked up the new tag for the dually, then tired to get a haircut, but my barber now has banker's hours. Geeze, and he used to make fun of me and my hours!! I came home and worked on something I am trying to get done for kiddos for Christmas, and Jake changed a flat on the hay truck, went to Perkins to gather mineral and we decided to try some of the lazy man's feed, feed in a tub, for the weaned heifers, so he got two of those to try. He feed, and came home. He has been such great help this last summer and fall, I will truly be lost without him. He really loves messing with the cattle. I think he has us moving back into the club calf market. We are supposed to go look at some young bulls at Alpha Angus Ranch today for the heifers this spring. Also thinking of maybe trying AI or ET on them. Just not sure. We also need to chase some replacement bulls for cow herd but think we will get some cross breds, probably from neighbor who has the best in the world, or so it seems! They sure look great and don't have to drive around the world looking!! I also uploaded an album yesterday of Siegrist and Snethen items. There are tons more, these are some of things out of the one book I brought home. Will try to put under the pics the comments about what the pic shows. Can not hardly wait to eat dinner with Austyn tomorrow night celebrating his Bday, big number 5! Happy Birthday Austyn!!

To our extended family....

Mom sent home some more things for me to look at regarding the Snethen family that she has. I will try to get them scanned and post later on in the week, or over the weekend. Some really neat things, I think.

To the immediate family, I have a copy of the tape of Grandpa Siegrist and his stories of coming to America, etc. plus some other neat things to add too...

Jake worked me too death yesterday,

And I am tired!!

Jake and I sorted, moved, culled, and gathered up cattle in the am and hauled feed and mineral in the pm, then starting feeding, but that continues today, plus we have calves that need worked and are taking them to OSU Vet Clinic to be worked. Wish it was to Perkins Vet Clinic, but t'is not. If Jake keeps this up, he will make a hand out of me yet!

Then tomorrow we need to go look at bulls in the am and work on books in the pm.
Oh, my gosh, I am starting to sound like my mom...oh my goodness!!! haha... love ya Mom!

Jake and I gathered up lunch and ate with Grandma too. One of those brown bag deals from Sonic... Not nearly as good as Mom's cooking, but when we walked in at noon, she had not started lunch, and it looked pretty bleak for us to get lunch...haha.. so we did second best deal. We thought we'd get mineral at the Coop in Perkins, but they were out... I honestly do not know how that place stays in business. It's the darkest business in Perkins, and not very clean and they show zero respect for their customers.. almost like you are interrupting them when go there.. as you can tell, I hate going there. Enough on that!

Well, to start off today, the old farm feed wagon, Dad's ole rusty gray ford 4 wheel drive pickup has a flat on the front, so we get to fix that, and then it's off the circus called life.

smiling... wonder how Heather and Paul's new pigs are doing...hum. They got a couple to feed out and Andrew does not want to eat them cause he likes them... oh my!

I was going through some old family photos, so in the next week or so, as time allows, I will get more online of the kids showing their animals.. that was a big part of our lives, along with all the other activities.. but we loved our gypsy weekends.. In those days, one really worked to show cattle, etc. I am sure they still do, but in those days, one stayed up late at night cutting up sisal rope into fine pieces, gathering up all the needed supplies and you really dressed a calf, adding hair and fiber where needed and taking away where it was not. In some ways, I think a kiddo learned a lot more about their animals, the animals faults, etc and how to fix it and the next time they needed an animal, they remembered and looked for one without so many faults to correct... thinking out loud... kids would say I am rambling now.. so I'll sign off..

Have a great day, and enjoy the roses!!

What a wonderful day it has been with all the sunshine, after the "lil" ole snow storm we had. It has been many days without sunshine, and now... it's peaking through.
Andrew had a doctor's visit in OKC this am and Ann and Jake went along and with Heather and Andrew to get his ears checked after his surgery. All is A OK! And he is doing quite well. They ran by Farmers Grain in Edmond to get bird feed for Ann's Quakers and her wild bird feed. Our "out side" birds eat as well as we do, haha!!
Ann put up a little train that she got several years ago for Christmas in our living room and Andrew found it today and played and played with it. Our home really looks nice as Ann has done a great job (as usual) decorating it up for the season.
We ended up having a great long Thanksgiving … We ended up having three special meals with most of the family at each… wow, what a deal! But, I think Ann was ready for it to be over and get Christmas underway!!
We received a special note from our niece Cortney Shaklee, in Florida, who just got back into the country. She and her mom went to Italy for some R and R! They had a really special time and truly enjoyed the trip. I can not wait to see the pictures of their trip. What a wonderful opportunity to spend that much time with your family, and see the Old Country in the process.
About it for now. More later! Enjoy the day!

Well, we had the good fortune of having our second Thanksgiving Dinner today. WE had it at noon, because Great Grandmother Moffat said she would be here, and everyone showed up but HER!! hummmmmm oh well, maybe she didn't want to see Kaitlyn... yeah, right.. haha. Anyway, Grandmother Ann got to see her and hold her and right now Grandma and I are watching Kaitlyn while her mom and Dad and Jake run into town for a while. Isn't she growing??? wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have a great day! Oh, I have shared our web site with Tammy's 4th cousin today. Can not wait to hear from her again. She has lots of history on the family and even some copies of some pics.. wow!! Tammy is excited too! later...

Happy Thanksgiving one and all...!

Another Turkey Day come and went!!! I sure thought this photo sure told the truth about the day in lots of way. It's about getting together, sharing with those you love... and sometimes it's the little things, like the hand on the shoulder that seem to mean the most! Amazing how simple life can be sometimes, if we just take a bit to "smell the roses". And the roses were a bloom at our home this holiday. Lots of things to be thankful for this year. Yes, even in the mist of all the things we lost, there are wonderful things that are telling us how wonderful life is, and how fortunate we are to be alive, and living in the great USA! I among men am very richly blessed. I have one of the most awesome family's in the universe. God blessed me with the most wonderful woman on the face of the earth to stand by my side through thick and thin, and sometimes the really thin... and I love her deeply, and know that I am loved in return. I have four of the greatest kids in the world. They are richly talented, amazing smart, and great people kids who love to live life to the fullest, while helping others!! And then, how often does this happen. I have amazing son and daughter in laws! Again, they are richly talented, amazingly smart, and truly special, each in their own way. Again, I am richly blessed. And then I have three very special grandchildren who each are terrific in their own right. Each has something unique about them that makes them endearing to me, and I love them very much.
And I blessed with a great Mom, no other mother on the face of the earth could put up with me, yet she can. She gives me strength to go on, courage to face the tough times, and guides me by her actions to better things. And a super sister, and even though I lost my father this year, I had a chance to tell him the one thing I had put off all my life. On one of our last drives, we stopped the pickup and I told him he was the best father any kiddo could ever hope to have. He was simply simply simple and yet amazing in his own right. I told him that because of him, I am. And he understood... He is gone, yet on this day of Thanksgiving, I knew he was with us. You could see him in the sunshine that blessed this day, feel his arms around you in the wind that wrapped around our bodies this afternoon, and hear his laughter throughout our family all day long, and feel his spirit in my office as I send this note.
Yes, some are gone, others are new, and one is on the way.. but truly, Ann and I are richly blessed to be the parents of one of the greatest familys in the world!! We love you each and every one!
Have a great day.. and some pics are up now from today.. and Jonathan and Randi are coming up tomorrow to be with us.. so more after that too.. we get to see Jon, Randi and Kaitlyn.. can not wait!!! Enjoy the day!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

Recited by: Doc Quinn To listen click here



Cowboy's Prayer
I was moping around the outer corrals
of a friend of mine's ranch one day.
When I seen this old gray haired cowboy,
kneel down to the ground to pray.

He said, "Good morning Sir, it's just me again,
and I reckon I'm feeling alright,
except yesterday's heat hung on for quite a spell
and I didn't sleep much late last night.

But, I thought I'd stop and kinda talk awhile
just to let you know I'm still around.
I haven't accomplished a lot lately Lord,
I'm just trying to hold this cow job down.

Now you know how it is in the cow game Lord,
when the moisture all leaves the ground.
The grass all dies and the sand starts to blow
and it kinda of keeps the calf crop down.

Ya see, the water holes are nearly dried up Lord
and the cattle's getting thinner somewhat,
but, five or six days of good heavy rain
it'd sure help out a mighty lot.

Now I ain't got no favors to ask for myself,
I reckon things are alright by me,
except that climb to my saddle gets higher everyday
or maybe my knees are getting weak.

So excuse me Sir for taking up your time
but I had a few things to say,
we could sure use a little bit of moisture Sir
if you'd care to send a little bit our way."

Well I slowly turned and I walked away
and I stepped thru the door of a shed,
and I was down right ashamed for standing so quite
eaves-dropping the way that I did.

Just to think this old man, just a common hard hand,
although he never asked a thing for himself,
yet he knelt and talked to God like a friend
as he prayed for somebody else.

Well, we missed that old man at breakfast next morn
when he didn't sit down to his plate
and when we went to the bunkhouse we'd found him dead
but he died with a smile on his face.

And if you should wonder if this story is true
or if maybe it's just a refrain,
when we buried that old cowboy that same afternoon
it had already started to rain.
© Doyle R. Quinn I 1963

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all~~!!

Clinton and Joanna sent this link along and it is AWESOME!!!

The song that silenced the cappuccino machine!!!!

It was chilly in Manhattan but warm inside the Starbucks shop on 51st Street and Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square. Early November weather in New York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late December and January, but it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for available space and warmth.

For a musician, it's the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, I'm told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right. Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing...............

To finish this wonderful story, you need to click here, and you will be glad you did!

Submitted by Paul Odle.... Yukon, OK.

A dietitian was once addressing a large audience in Chicago. "The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here, years ago.

Red meat is awful. Soft drinks erode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. Vegetables can be disastrous, and none of us realizes the long-term harm caused by the germs in our drinking water.

But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all and we all have, or will, eat it. Can anyone here tell me what food it is that causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?"

A 75-year-old man in the front row stood up and said, "Wedding cake"

Rec. a note from Ward and Melanie and wanted to share it with everyone....

"How is everyone doing and we hope your winter doesn't set in too early. We made it thru the last hurricane OK. Since I was late getting home from work, and by the time I finished putting plywood up, the wind was already blowing about 25-35 mph. We decided to stick it out and not take the risk of driving in an approaching storm. Didn't get any sleep all night until about 5:30 am when it looked like the worst was over us. Fortunately in our area all the utilities are underground and we did not loose power during any of the storms. Some of our friends were without power for several weeks.

Damage on the beach side was significant and lots of places still closed or condemned. Further south was where the brunt of the storm caused real devastation. Some of our friends on the beach side lost a section of their roof on the first night and when they got back Monday it was a mess. About 16 folks went over and helped tear out their ceilings, dry wall and carpets. Only one room was still liveable. Problem here in Florida is that once moisture gets into the attic, the mildew and mold literally blooms overnight and you have a major problem on your hands. Only a few houses in our development had roof damage and they were on the east side of the development.

In just a few days the hurricane season will be over and we are so very happy for the end of this season. Lots of folks reassessing where they want to live and lots of retirees questioning if they should move a ways north.

We hope that all is going well and we send our love and prayers. So glad the election results were favorable for President Bush. It was amazing how much misinformation was posted by the large broadcasting companies. What is really amazing is that so many people still get all their news from them. Saw so much bogus info on Iraq that it was nauseating. Have several folks in our group who just came back and they said that our news doesn't accurately depict the progress and conditions overseas. Tough on our troops if they think their nation is trying to undermine their good works.

Say hi to everyone and keep in touch. Take care; Ward and Melanie"
(Shaklee,Melborne, FL., Ann's brother and sister in law)

Now if we could just get some pictures from them!! haha... maybe in a bit, huh????

It was great to get this note from them. And we all are relived they did not have much damage. We had sent several notes but knew they were busy helping others get their lives back. Ward and Melanie are true givers, always ready to help others at the drop of the hat.

Enjoy the day!!