Chocolate Chip Dip
8 ounce cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mini choc chips
Mix and roll into a ball. Chill until hard, overnight. Roll in
chopped pecans. Let soften slightly before serving. Use animal
crackers or teddy grahams instead of chips or crackers.
Friday, January 14, 2005
COW/CALF CORNER
COW/CALF CORNER
The newsletter
January 14, 2005
In this issue:
Canadian Border Situation Adds Uncertainty to Cattle Markets
Derrell S. Peel, OSU Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
Signs of Impending Calving in Cows or Heifers
Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist
Canadian Border Situation Adds Uncertainty to Cattle Markets
In late December, USDA issued a final rule on opening the Canadian border to some live cattle and an expanded set of beef products that appeared to set a date of March 7 for increased trade. There has been and continues to be considerable concern over the impacts this will have on U.S. cattle markets. In the last week, several events have occurred that again increase uncertainty about the impacts and when the border may open.
Two lawsuits were filed this week, which could delay the opening beyond the March 7 date. One suit was filed by R-CALF, arguing that the rule was not restrictive enough and the other, filed by the American Meat Institute, argues that the rule is still too restrictive. Additionally, the Canadian government announced another positive BSE case, the second in two weeks. The USDA risk assessment included the possibility of additional BSE cases in Canada and although USDA initially stated that the new cases would not change implementation of the new rule, USDA has dispatched a technical team to provide some additional review of the situation in Canada. Any of these legal or administrative actions could result in delayed implementation of the rule.
The market most likely to be impacted significantly is the cull cow market. At the current time, this is the only cattle market still entirely closed as no cows or meat from animals over 30 months of age is allowed into the U.S. The proposed rule would allow meat from animals over 30 months of age but not cows. Thus, a portion of Canadian slaughter facilities would likely be redirected to cow slaughter. This further implies that part of the anticipated increase in fed cattle imports would be offset by a reduction in fed beef imports that are currently being shipped to the U.S.
The proposed rule would allow feeder cattle to be imported only if they are fed at designated feedlots and then moved directly to slaughter (the animals must be under 30 months of age at the time of slaughter). Some pressure on feeder and fed prices is expected but much of the impact in these markets has already been incorporated into the markets. A certain date of border opening would further ease the transition of these markets, with much of the impact occurring in advance of the actual opening of the border. It is in the cow market that the greatest imbalance exists and where much less can be done to smooth the impacts of the border opening.
Signs of impending calving in cows or heifers
As the calving season approaches, the cows will show typical signs that will indicate parturition is imminent. Changes that are gradually seen are udder development, or making bag and the relaxation and swelling of the vulva or “springing”. These indicate the cow is due to calve in the near future. There is much difference between individuals in the development of these signs and certainly age is a factor.
The first calf heifer, particularly in the heavy milking breeds, develops udder for a very long time, sometimes for two or three months before parturition. The springing can be highly variable too. Most people notice that Brahman-influence cattle seem to “spring” much more than do cattle of other breeds. Typically, in the immediate 2 weeks preceding calving, springing becomes more evident, the udder is filling, and one of the things that might be seen is the loss of the cervical plug. This is a very thick tenacious, mucous material hanging from the vulva. It may be seen pooling behind the cow when she is lying down. Some people mistakenly think this happens immediately before calving, but in fact this can be seen weeks before parturition and therefore is only another sign that the calving season is here.
The immediate signs that usually occur within 24 hours of calving would be relaxation of the pelvic ligaments and strutting of the teats. These can be fairly dependable for the owner that watches his cows several times a day during the calving season. The casual observer or even the professional who is knowledgeable of the signs but sees the herd infrequently cannot accurately predict calving time from these signs. The relaxation of the pelvic ligaments really can not be observed in fat cows, (body condition score 7 or greater). However, relaxation of the ligaments can be seen very clearly in thin or moderate body condition cows and can be a clue of parturition within the next 12 - 24 hours. Relaxation of the pelvic ligaments is a sign the producer or herdsman can best use to more closely pinpoint calving time. Strutting of the teats is not really very dependable. Some heavy milking cows will have strutting of the teats as much as two or three days before calving and on the other hand, a thin poor milking cow may calve without strutting of the teats. Another thing that might be seen in the immediate 12 hours before calving would be variable behavior such as a cow that does not come up to eat, or a cow that isolates herself into a particular corner of the pasture. However, some cows have few behavioral changes until the parturition process starts. Source: Calving Management, OSU Extension Circular E-906.
The newsletter
January 14, 2005
In this issue:
Canadian Border Situation Adds Uncertainty to Cattle Markets
Derrell S. Peel, OSU Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
Signs of Impending Calving in Cows or Heifers
Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist
Canadian Border Situation Adds Uncertainty to Cattle Markets
In late December, USDA issued a final rule on opening the Canadian border to some live cattle and an expanded set of beef products that appeared to set a date of March 7 for increased trade. There has been and continues to be considerable concern over the impacts this will have on U.S. cattle markets. In the last week, several events have occurred that again increase uncertainty about the impacts and when the border may open.
Two lawsuits were filed this week, which could delay the opening beyond the March 7 date. One suit was filed by R-CALF, arguing that the rule was not restrictive enough and the other, filed by the American Meat Institute, argues that the rule is still too restrictive. Additionally, the Canadian government announced another positive BSE case, the second in two weeks. The USDA risk assessment included the possibility of additional BSE cases in Canada and although USDA initially stated that the new cases would not change implementation of the new rule, USDA has dispatched a technical team to provide some additional review of the situation in Canada. Any of these legal or administrative actions could result in delayed implementation of the rule.
The market most likely to be impacted significantly is the cull cow market. At the current time, this is the only cattle market still entirely closed as no cows or meat from animals over 30 months of age is allowed into the U.S. The proposed rule would allow meat from animals over 30 months of age but not cows. Thus, a portion of Canadian slaughter facilities would likely be redirected to cow slaughter. This further implies that part of the anticipated increase in fed cattle imports would be offset by a reduction in fed beef imports that are currently being shipped to the U.S.
The proposed rule would allow feeder cattle to be imported only if they are fed at designated feedlots and then moved directly to slaughter (the animals must be under 30 months of age at the time of slaughter). Some pressure on feeder and fed prices is expected but much of the impact in these markets has already been incorporated into the markets. A certain date of border opening would further ease the transition of these markets, with much of the impact occurring in advance of the actual opening of the border. It is in the cow market that the greatest imbalance exists and where much less can be done to smooth the impacts of the border opening.
Signs of impending calving in cows or heifers
As the calving season approaches, the cows will show typical signs that will indicate parturition is imminent. Changes that are gradually seen are udder development, or making bag and the relaxation and swelling of the vulva or “springing”. These indicate the cow is due to calve in the near future. There is much difference between individuals in the development of these signs and certainly age is a factor.
The first calf heifer, particularly in the heavy milking breeds, develops udder for a very long time, sometimes for two or three months before parturition. The springing can be highly variable too. Most people notice that Brahman-influence cattle seem to “spring” much more than do cattle of other breeds. Typically, in the immediate 2 weeks preceding calving, springing becomes more evident, the udder is filling, and one of the things that might be seen is the loss of the cervical plug. This is a very thick tenacious, mucous material hanging from the vulva. It may be seen pooling behind the cow when she is lying down. Some people mistakenly think this happens immediately before calving, but in fact this can be seen weeks before parturition and therefore is only another sign that the calving season is here.
The immediate signs that usually occur within 24 hours of calving would be relaxation of the pelvic ligaments and strutting of the teats. These can be fairly dependable for the owner that watches his cows several times a day during the calving season. The casual observer or even the professional who is knowledgeable of the signs but sees the herd infrequently cannot accurately predict calving time from these signs. The relaxation of the pelvic ligaments really can not be observed in fat cows, (body condition score 7 or greater). However, relaxation of the ligaments can be seen very clearly in thin or moderate body condition cows and can be a clue of parturition within the next 12 - 24 hours. Relaxation of the pelvic ligaments is a sign the producer or herdsman can best use to more closely pinpoint calving time. Strutting of the teats is not really very dependable. Some heavy milking cows will have strutting of the teats as much as two or three days before calving and on the other hand, a thin poor milking cow may calve without strutting of the teats. Another thing that might be seen in the immediate 12 hours before calving would be variable behavior such as a cow that does not come up to eat, or a cow that isolates herself into a particular corner of the pasture. However, some cows have few behavioral changes until the parturition process starts. Source: Calving Management, OSU Extension Circular E-906.
Keep'n a promise....
Click here for Jon's Photo Albums.... and then be sure to check out Jonathan, Randi, and Kaitlyn's new blog design and musings....
Hey... Jon... I kept my promise... haha.. finally!!!!
Hey... Jon... I kept my promise... haha.. finally!!!!
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
From Uncle Ivan comes this gem....
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill. In the
room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He
said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He
proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air. Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he
dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He
picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands
went into the air. My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No
matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in
value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled,
and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come
our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or
what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or
finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our
lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. You are special-
Don't EVER forget it." If you do not pass this on, you may never know the lives it
touches, the hurting hearts it speaks to, or the hope that it can bring. Count your
blessings, not your problems. And remember: amateurs built the ark ... professionals built the Titanic. If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.
room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He
said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He
proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air. Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he
dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He
picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands
went into the air. My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No
matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in
value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled,
and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come
our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or
what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or
finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our
lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. You are special-
Don't EVER forget it." If you do not pass this on, you may never know the lives it
touches, the hurting hearts it speaks to, or the hope that it can bring. Count your
blessings, not your problems. And remember: amateurs built the ark ... professionals built the Titanic. If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.
Not too much going on....
we are awaiting the arrival of yet another winter storm, but this time maybe not too bad. Lot's of moisture this winter, sure hope we have some for the summer grasses too. Jake's been tending cattle and doing an outstanding job. He really likes messing 'round with cattle! And is really good at it. We have a neighbor, Fred Shultz, who has one of the most modern ranches in the southwest as far as technology goes, and Jake has been helping and learning from him this winter, too. Fred's mom is not doing very well, is terminal with leukemia, so we have offered to help him many times, as he offered when Dad was failing too.
Phil called Sunday afternoon to inform us of a great show on RFD TV... about trains... I love them, guess it's the kid in me, but I still remember the station at El Reno when we would take cream there to put on the train for Enid... the sound, the smell, how big things were... and have always loved toy trains.. but never had one... My cousin Larry Moffat did, and I used to love going there and lie on the floor and watch the smoke come out of the stack... Ann and I got Andrew a couple of videos on the 100 year anniversary of Lionel Trains.. seems they are the only toy company in America that has lasted 100 years.. but anyway... got lost..haha
The show he told us to watch... sure made me warm, toasty warm, as it featured a line of trains.. 3 steam engines pushing a diesel engine with a Snow Blower in front of it... through drifts higher than the engines, wow, to clear the tracks... Just unbelievable how it all works, the whistles, the smoke, the blowing snow, the scenic view, was just awesome! Thanks Phil for sharing!!
Have not heard a thing from Uncle Calvin and Aunt Agnes Siegrist in California... wonder how his treatment is going? Maybe we will hear something soon. I have sent them tons of emails.. maybe they are not getting them there.
Have not heard from Uncle Ivan and Aunt Freda either, but on this deal... haha, I think Jake is going to call them and check in...
Heather and Paul are feeding out some pigs, and are going to give us one... to eat... can not wait. Bet they are really "tastey". Andrew is helping feed them too. Other day Paul showed him second gear and reverse in his electric gator, and the report is ... he now flies around the yard, etc... but guess it was a hoot at first cause he didn't know it would go fast, and when they upped the speed.. his face as total amazement!!
Think too that there is a Birthday coming up on the 15th. Heard it was Ms. Tammy's Birthday... Oh how I love family birthdays... not for the years.. but selfishly for the food.. hahah....... but!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy the day!!
Phil called Sunday afternoon to inform us of a great show on RFD TV... about trains... I love them, guess it's the kid in me, but I still remember the station at El Reno when we would take cream there to put on the train for Enid... the sound, the smell, how big things were... and have always loved toy trains.. but never had one... My cousin Larry Moffat did, and I used to love going there and lie on the floor and watch the smoke come out of the stack... Ann and I got Andrew a couple of videos on the 100 year anniversary of Lionel Trains.. seems they are the only toy company in America that has lasted 100 years.. but anyway... got lost..haha
The show he told us to watch... sure made me warm, toasty warm, as it featured a line of trains.. 3 steam engines pushing a diesel engine with a Snow Blower in front of it... through drifts higher than the engines, wow, to clear the tracks... Just unbelievable how it all works, the whistles, the smoke, the blowing snow, the scenic view, was just awesome! Thanks Phil for sharing!!
Have not heard a thing from Uncle Calvin and Aunt Agnes Siegrist in California... wonder how his treatment is going? Maybe we will hear something soon. I have sent them tons of emails.. maybe they are not getting them there.
Have not heard from Uncle Ivan and Aunt Freda either, but on this deal... haha, I think Jake is going to call them and check in...
Heather and Paul are feeding out some pigs, and are going to give us one... to eat... can not wait. Bet they are really "tastey". Andrew is helping feed them too. Other day Paul showed him second gear and reverse in his electric gator, and the report is ... he now flies around the yard, etc... but guess it was a hoot at first cause he didn't know it would go fast, and when they upped the speed.. his face as total amazement!!
Think too that there is a Birthday coming up on the 15th. Heard it was Ms. Tammy's Birthday... Oh how I love family birthdays... not for the years.. but selfishly for the food.. hahah....... but!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy the day!!
Today's Quote
Today's Quote
Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don't.
-Pete Seeger
Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don't.
-Pete Seeger
Monday, January 10, 2005
Thought for Today
Thought for Today
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."
--Dale Carnegie
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."
--Dale Carnegie
I found another gem of a young lady we saw last Saturday night... thought I would share it with you all too... Kaitlyn Brooke Moffat at 77 days.. Looks like another nice day here. Not to much happening, but I have to much awaited paper work to get done and some new to start, called taxes... haha. Looks like Oklahoma will be in for a bunch of bad weather this coming weekend. I really feel for the animals.. cattle, etc. But not for Ann's wild birds... she takes really good care of them, and we love watching them at the many feeders she has scattered around the yard. Enjoy the day!
Cheese "steak" Pizza, it's soooo goooood!!!
Cheese "steak" Pizza
Ingredients:
1 lbs ground beef
1 small onion, sliced thin, separated into rings
1 small green or red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 package (16 ounces) thick pre-baked pizza crust (12-inch)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
Heat oven to 400°F. Brown ground beef in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 6 minutes. Add onion and bell pepper; cook until beef is not pink and vegetables are crisp-tender, breaking beef up into small crumbles. Pour off drippings; season with salt and pepper.
Place pizza crust on baking sheet. Top with beef mixture, then cheese. Bake in 400°F oven 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
From Beef Council
Ingredients:
1 lbs ground beef
1 small onion, sliced thin, separated into rings
1 small green or red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 package (16 ounces) thick pre-baked pizza crust (12-inch)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
Heat oven to 400°F. Brown ground beef in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 6 minutes. Add onion and bell pepper; cook until beef is not pink and vegetables are crisp-tender, breaking beef up into small crumbles. Pour off drippings; season with salt and pepper.
Place pizza crust on baking sheet. Top with beef mixture, then cheese. Bake in 400°F oven 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
From Beef Council
Sunday, January 09, 2005
The Rose King.....
The Rose King....
Some of you all love to garden and work in your yard. The following is written by Paul Odle, Sr. who lives in the Lawton - Ft. Sill Veteran's Center. I found it interesting, both for the history of things around Enid in days past.. and his knowledge of roses... Enjoy!!
~~~~~~~~~~~
The Rose King
This morning very early a very special daughter came out to have breakfast with me and brought me the most beautiful Mr. Lincoln Rose’s. The Rose were a very dark red almost black color with the greenest leaves, the rose buds and the leaves were so perfectly shaped that you could imagine that an artist very carefully painted them. The Red roses were surrounded by breath taking tiny white “baby breath?flowers. The Bouquet was professionally arranged in a pure crystal vase. As I glanced at the bouquet of breath taking roses I could hear them quietly whispering “I love you dad!?
The rose brought back many fond memories to a time and a place where we lived when this same special daughter was about two years old. The City was Enid in the County of Garfield in the beautiful state of Oklahoma, the year was 1959 or 1960, and I had bought my first house at 725 Malone Street.
Malone Street was a short Street two blocks long lined with big tall beautiful tree’s with lots of pretty birds singing their little hearts out. At that time it was a nice quiet place to live. I loved living there.
At that time in my life I worked for a Company by the name of Evans Cut-Rite Drug; they were the only discount store in North West Oklahoma at that time. They would bring in a couple of cases of bare route rose bushes, two cases of shrubs and two cases of trees. I stared putting them on the shelves and people were picking them up out of the cases and buying them, we were sold out in two hours. We had purchased these number one plants from a nursery in Shenandoah, Iowa. I called that Company and doubled the order. Every time I sold out in a few hours I would double the last order. That year we sold more rose bushes, shrubs, and trees than had ever been sold in that store. At that time I knew very little about bare route plants.
Mr. BILL LABARTHE of Pond creek, Oklahoma sold us the plants and he also sold us Alaskan Fish Emulsion a plant fertilizer that would not burn your plants. Old Bill was quite a Character, he owned and operated the Movie Theatre in Pond Creek, and he tested roses for several big Nurseries?in the US. He lived on Main Street. BILL had a rose garden in his front yard. BILL LA BARTHE and I become good friends. He taught me everything he knew about roses. And he helped me plant my first rose garden. He also gave me the name of a book that told you everything you needed to known about planting and caring for roses. I bought that book and read it. I had that book until Dec. 17,2003 when I moved to the LAWTON/FORT SILL VETERANS RETIREMENT CENTER.
It was not two long before I had a Rose Garden of two hundred different rose bushes. I was asked to talk to Garden Clubs about growing roses. One year I was voted ROSE KING OF GARFIELD COUNTY and was presented with a jacket with a big Red Rose on the back with rhinestones out lining the Rose, above the rose it said PAUL ODLE and below the Rose it read ROSE KING OF GARFIELD COUNTY. I was very proud of that honor and that Jacket.
Every home I ever owned I landscaped the front and back yard and I always had a Rose Garden with two hundred different rose bushes. All of my roses had different names and I knew their names.
DEAN SHIRLEY the Professor of Botany at PHILIPS UNIVERSITY, Enid, Oklahoma and his wife Mrs. Shirley and The Botany Professor of Oklahoma University, Norman Oklahoma and his wife who was President of the American Rose Society for this District would come once a year to tour my gardens. In the 1970’s and 1980’s busloads of Garden Clubs from all over the state would come tour my gardens. Roses have always been a big part of my life. I still like to have my life ROSEY. “Life is just a bed of Roses.?lt;/P>
Good soil preparation is the most important thing to growing rose’s or any other plant. If you do this to your ground long before you purchase your roses and plants you will have lots of big blooms. Steak out your rose garden in a spot that will get the morning sun. Dig down three foot deep throwing your dirt to the side and removing any grass or weeds. After you have your garden dug up to three feet deep; lay a layer of small pieces of rock in the bottom of the hole. Then put a layer of soil over the rock. Add a layer of dried peat moss over the dirt. Then add a layer of dirt over the peat moss. Next add a layer of sterilized manure over the dirt. Add a layer of dirt and then a layer of cottonseed hauls. Keep repeating this dirt, peat moss. Dirt, Sterilized manure, dirt, cottonseed hauls, dirt until your garden is at ground level.
The months of January, February, and March is the time to plant bare route plants after March you need to plant potted roses, shrubs and trees. When planting roses you want to plant them two foot a part, digging a hole 1 ?Ft deep throwing the dirt into a wheel barrel, the hole needs to be 1 ?foot across. Make a mound in the center of hole, with pruning shears cut the roses back to 6 or 8 inches being careful to cut the stem just above a thorn, cutting it on a slant. If you want the plant to grow out slant the cut out, if you want the plant to grow in cut the stem above the thorn facing inward.
Take a hold of the plant by the knot (Heart) sitting the knot on top of the mound of dirt spreading the routes around the mound, pat dirt on top of the routes, fill hole up with water, when all water has drained out of the hole fill up hole with dirt, water the dirt in and then mound up dirt around the crown/heart and wet down with water, so that your rose bush dose not freeze. Before planting bare route plants you should soak the routes in a tub or bucket of water. Potted roses is a different story, you dig a hole deep enough for the pot making sure that the crown is growned level. You Carefully remove the pot without disturbing the dirt around the plant. Fill the hole in with dirt and water the plant in good. If you want to mulch the top of your rose garden SUGAR CANE HAULS make a beautiful ground cover.
By Paul L.Odle, Sr.
Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center
Some of you all love to garden and work in your yard. The following is written by Paul Odle, Sr. who lives in the Lawton - Ft. Sill Veteran's Center. I found it interesting, both for the history of things around Enid in days past.. and his knowledge of roses... Enjoy!!
~~~~~~~~~~~
The Rose King
This morning very early a very special daughter came out to have breakfast with me and brought me the most beautiful Mr. Lincoln Rose’s. The Rose were a very dark red almost black color with the greenest leaves, the rose buds and the leaves were so perfectly shaped that you could imagine that an artist very carefully painted them. The Red roses were surrounded by breath taking tiny white “baby breath?flowers. The Bouquet was professionally arranged in a pure crystal vase. As I glanced at the bouquet of breath taking roses I could hear them quietly whispering “I love you dad!?
The rose brought back many fond memories to a time and a place where we lived when this same special daughter was about two years old. The City was Enid in the County of Garfield in the beautiful state of Oklahoma, the year was 1959 or 1960, and I had bought my first house at 725 Malone Street.
Malone Street was a short Street two blocks long lined with big tall beautiful tree’s with lots of pretty birds singing their little hearts out. At that time it was a nice quiet place to live. I loved living there.
At that time in my life I worked for a Company by the name of Evans Cut-Rite Drug; they were the only discount store in North West Oklahoma at that time. They would bring in a couple of cases of bare route rose bushes, two cases of shrubs and two cases of trees. I stared putting them on the shelves and people were picking them up out of the cases and buying them, we were sold out in two hours. We had purchased these number one plants from a nursery in Shenandoah, Iowa. I called that Company and doubled the order. Every time I sold out in a few hours I would double the last order. That year we sold more rose bushes, shrubs, and trees than had ever been sold in that store. At that time I knew very little about bare route plants.
Mr. BILL LABARTHE of Pond creek, Oklahoma sold us the plants and he also sold us Alaskan Fish Emulsion a plant fertilizer that would not burn your plants. Old Bill was quite a Character, he owned and operated the Movie Theatre in Pond Creek, and he tested roses for several big Nurseries?in the US. He lived on Main Street. BILL had a rose garden in his front yard. BILL LA BARTHE and I become good friends. He taught me everything he knew about roses. And he helped me plant my first rose garden. He also gave me the name of a book that told you everything you needed to known about planting and caring for roses. I bought that book and read it. I had that book until Dec. 17,2003 when I moved to the LAWTON/FORT SILL VETERANS RETIREMENT CENTER.
It was not two long before I had a Rose Garden of two hundred different rose bushes. I was asked to talk to Garden Clubs about growing roses. One year I was voted ROSE KING OF GARFIELD COUNTY and was presented with a jacket with a big Red Rose on the back with rhinestones out lining the Rose, above the rose it said PAUL ODLE and below the Rose it read ROSE KING OF GARFIELD COUNTY. I was very proud of that honor and that Jacket.
Every home I ever owned I landscaped the front and back yard and I always had a Rose Garden with two hundred different rose bushes. All of my roses had different names and I knew their names.
DEAN SHIRLEY the Professor of Botany at PHILIPS UNIVERSITY, Enid, Oklahoma and his wife Mrs. Shirley and The Botany Professor of Oklahoma University, Norman Oklahoma and his wife who was President of the American Rose Society for this District would come once a year to tour my gardens. In the 1970’s and 1980’s busloads of Garden Clubs from all over the state would come tour my gardens. Roses have always been a big part of my life. I still like to have my life ROSEY. “Life is just a bed of Roses.?lt;/P>
Good soil preparation is the most important thing to growing rose’s or any other plant. If you do this to your ground long before you purchase your roses and plants you will have lots of big blooms. Steak out your rose garden in a spot that will get the morning sun. Dig down three foot deep throwing your dirt to the side and removing any grass or weeds. After you have your garden dug up to three feet deep; lay a layer of small pieces of rock in the bottom of the hole. Then put a layer of soil over the rock. Add a layer of dried peat moss over the dirt. Then add a layer of dirt over the peat moss. Next add a layer of sterilized manure over the dirt. Add a layer of dirt and then a layer of cottonseed hauls. Keep repeating this dirt, peat moss. Dirt, Sterilized manure, dirt, cottonseed hauls, dirt until your garden is at ground level.
The months of January, February, and March is the time to plant bare route plants after March you need to plant potted roses, shrubs and trees. When planting roses you want to plant them two foot a part, digging a hole 1 ?Ft deep throwing the dirt into a wheel barrel, the hole needs to be 1 ?foot across. Make a mound in the center of hole, with pruning shears cut the roses back to 6 or 8 inches being careful to cut the stem just above a thorn, cutting it on a slant. If you want the plant to grow out slant the cut out, if you want the plant to grow in cut the stem above the thorn facing inward.
Take a hold of the plant by the knot (Heart) sitting the knot on top of the mound of dirt spreading the routes around the mound, pat dirt on top of the routes, fill hole up with water, when all water has drained out of the hole fill up hole with dirt, water the dirt in and then mound up dirt around the crown/heart and wet down with water, so that your rose bush dose not freeze. Before planting bare route plants you should soak the routes in a tub or bucket of water. Potted roses is a different story, you dig a hole deep enough for the pot making sure that the crown is growned level. You Carefully remove the pot without disturbing the dirt around the plant. Fill the hole in with dirt and water the plant in good. If you want to mulch the top of your rose garden SUGAR CANE HAULS make a beautiful ground cover.
By Paul L.Odle, Sr.
Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center
Kaitlyn Brooke Moffat at 77 Days old, with Grandma Moffat at Kaitlyn's home.
OH MY Kaitlyn is really growing... Ann, Jake and I ran down to Roff and had dinner with Jon, Randi and Kaitlyn last night. She is really growing like a weed! Kaitlyn wants to set up all the time, or stand. She is really pulling herself up as much as she can and one will allow! She has discovered her tongue, and it's cool. She "feels" the air with it, etc.
The trip was good for all of us. Jake nor Ann nor I "killed" each other going down or back!! And dinner was awesome. Not sure the name of the place, but it was real Mexician Food, lots of it, and very reasonable in price! So unusual in these times!! Needless to say, we ate our fill, enjoyed the awesome company of Ms. Kaitlyn, who was very well behaved!! We encouraged Jon and Randi to enjoy it while they could, because that will change, haha... Having raised 4, we feel like old pro's ... haha.. Hey, now you stop that laughing at us!!!! haha.
The kids played games later, Grandma fed Kaitlyn, and I "SMASHED" the after bottle she presented to us later!! With the nice weather outside for the moment, and the company we were in, we felt like we were on top of the world.
Twas a great visit, and we headed home late, arrived safely, and wished the visit could have been longer!
Nice day here today, supposed to be in the 50's and 60's; however, that to will change in a a few days as another round of ole man winter is expected.
Everyone, enjoy the day!!!
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Got another wonderful note from Ann's Aunt Thelma Shaklee Wiseman....
Gosh, it's like old home week when we get a note from family... everyone stops doing what they are doing and all gather round while the emails read... Thanks to everyone for sending along your emails, we appreciate it very much!!!
And in this regard, we just got a note from our Aunt Thelma Shaklee Wiseman in Lawton, who sends along this....
Hello!!!!.......
The holidays are over now to look forward to next year. HA. The Friday before Christmas, Raymond Lee and Cyndy brought their grandchild Riley down to see us, we enjoyed her so much, and it had snowed, she really enjoyed playing in the snow. Her daddy has remarrried so we only get to be with her when she visits here granddad. On Saturday Lyndal and Marsha, the girls Erin and Ashley came. Ray's son, Trevor and wife and 3 boys came on New Years Day so our celebration was spread out, enjoyed every minute. The twins, Dawson and Dalton, are 5, their brother,Devin, is 3 yrs. You ask him how old he is and he says 5, he thinks he is old as his brothers. Ha
Hope you all are doing okay. We are doing okay, I had the bug about two weeks before Christmas, but doing okay now.
I'm not used to staying home all day, so I may be pulling my hair out by night time.
Hope you all are feeling okay. Aunt Thelma
Just wanted to share this with everyone... Really great to hear from Aunt Thelma. I am trying to get all the family genealogy into a program and then on cd for everyone to have and she has some much needed information. She's a hoot, and we look forward to seeing her again...
All for now, enjoy the day, and stay warm!!!! yuck...
And in this regard, we just got a note from our Aunt Thelma Shaklee Wiseman in Lawton, who sends along this....
Hello!!!!.......
The holidays are over now to look forward to next year. HA. The Friday before Christmas, Raymond Lee and Cyndy brought their grandchild Riley down to see us, we enjoyed her so much, and it had snowed, she really enjoyed playing in the snow. Her daddy has remarrried so we only get to be with her when she visits here granddad. On Saturday Lyndal and Marsha, the girls Erin and Ashley came. Ray's son, Trevor and wife and 3 boys came on New Years Day so our celebration was spread out, enjoyed every minute. The twins, Dawson and Dalton, are 5, their brother,Devin, is 3 yrs. You ask him how old he is and he says 5, he thinks he is old as his brothers. Ha
Hope you all are doing okay. We are doing okay, I had the bug about two weeks before Christmas, but doing okay now.
I'm not used to staying home all day, so I may be pulling my hair out by night time.
Hope you all are feeling okay. Aunt Thelma
Just wanted to share this with everyone... Really great to hear from Aunt Thelma. I am trying to get all the family genealogy into a program and then on cd for everyone to have and she has some much needed information. She's a hoot, and we look forward to seeing her again...
All for now, enjoy the day, and stay warm!!!! yuck...
got a neat note last evening from Eric Schiltz...
Some of you know Cousin Eric Shiltz, who started the Wormy Dog's... and recently sold the one in OKC, from having watched Jake play there over the years... Anyway, Eric sendings us his regards, he is in Des Moines, Iowa, and loves what he is doing. I forgot to ask him what that was. He said his Mom, Lana Beth Shaklee Schiltz, is now moved to OKC and doing well. Lann Beth and Ann are cousins actually... Anyway, just wanted to let you all know... Eric's been found..haha... Great to hear from him...
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Got a great note from Ward Shaklee.... and Melanie...
I was not sure that I have posted this photo from Ward and Melanie Shaklee, Melborne, Florida. This is Ann's younger brother and wife. They are a very neat couple, and live toooooo far away... we miss them and think of them often. We received a note from them and I wanted to post it ....
Ward writes:
Thanks, looking forward to looking at some pictures when I had more hair. ........
I came down with a bronchial viral infection before Thanksgiving and ended up missing a few days of work. Dr put me on Z-pack, and went thru two and half prescriptions, then was put on a penicillian antibiotic for eight days when the doctor finally concluded it was viral and not bacterial. Think my traveling between Thanksgiving and Christmas didn't help the recover timeline, and then ended up giving it to Melanie around the 22nd of Dec. We were both down thru the who holiday period and didn't go out except to get more Robitussion and other medications. We felt like real medicine-heads. Just starting to get better and Melanie is about two weeks behind my recovery, she has been better about resting to recover.
Felt like we did not really have a vacation period since we were sick the whole time. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Headed to DC tomorrow afternoon for some meetings with the Army and Navy on two of our programs.
Let us know how everyone is doing .................
Take care and thanks for staying in touch.
Best wishes,
Ward and Melanie
Wonder if it's colder in Norman than what the air temp says????? goodness, geeze..... OU must have never left the airport to go to Bowl...
Here is a one time treat for everyone!! This is, back row, Mom's brother Calvin and Agnes Siegrist of El Reno, yours truly, Elinore Mae Siegrist Moffat and Oscar... Mom and Dad, and in the front with my Grandparents Jake Siegrist and Maude Clifton Snethen Siegrist is ... L to R my nephews Kent and David Siegrist and me sis.. Marilyn Kay Moffat. Probably taken around 1963 - 1964 time period.
Well, the ice is here, roads getting bad, ground turning white. Lots of rain overnight. Now it's in the 20's as the moisture falls and weights down the electric lines, and tree limbs. Poor animals...
I wonder if it's colder in Norman, with OU football team returning there today.. could be REALLY cold there, hummmmm.....
Heather went to work this morning, called about 7 and told me to get Ann on her way if she was coming... but before Ann could leave, the University closed down. It is really bad when OSU closed down.. really bad!!!
Mom is ok. Said nothing is froze up or not working. That's good for everyone!!
All for now.. have a great day!!!
Got a note from Ward and Melanie and will post it later today.... Really great to hear from them!!
off to the racessssssssssssssssss......
Today's Quote....
Today's Quote
It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out – it's the grain of sand in your shoe.
-Robert Service
It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out – it's the grain of sand in your shoe.
-Robert Service
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Well, here we set waiting for OU to win and the ICE to start forming... yuck!!
This is really not what we had in mind on the night of the big OU game. But maybe it is an omen!! Maybe Hell will freeze over and OU will in big time.. and the ice will not come.... oh what a great thought!!
But at this writing, Michael has already called Ann and told her that all the family up there around Jet has lost electric, with it going off about 3:20pm this afternoon due to heavy icing of the power lines. He and Jerry Ray went over to Aunt Mert's and hooked up her generator so she would have electricity anyway.
So rock on.. and Let's go Sooners.. make us proud!! (like we are not... haha!)
How 'bout OSU hiring from within?!! Can not believe it, but anyway... looks like the same ole good ole boys are running things and keeping it, whatever that is, in the family!!! Just wished they would have looked around... but that is only one opinion of many.. haha.. time will tell...
LATER ALL..... ENJOY THE NIGHT!!!
But at this writing, Michael has already called Ann and told her that all the family up there around Jet has lost electric, with it going off about 3:20pm this afternoon due to heavy icing of the power lines. He and Jerry Ray went over to Aunt Mert's and hooked up her generator so she would have electricity anyway.
So rock on.. and Let's go Sooners.. make us proud!! (like we are not... haha!)
How 'bout OSU hiring from within?!! Can not believe it, but anyway... looks like the same ole good ole boys are running things and keeping it, whatever that is, in the family!!! Just wished they would have looked around... but that is only one opinion of many.. haha.. time will tell...
LATER ALL..... ENJOY THE NIGHT!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)