SOOC Sunday - Crimson Bouquet Rose

This 2000 All America winner has a deep velvety red bloom against glossy green foliage.  It has a compact growth habit for a grandiflora and is disease resistant and long lasting.  This is a beautiful garden rose.

Weekend Reflections - White Pelicans

White Pelicans at the Tulsa Zoo.

More Weekend Reflections
 

Skywatch Friday - Old Buttermilk Sky

Altostratus (mid-level) clouds.  We call this a buttermilk sky, or in England, a clabbered sky.  Old Buttermilk Sky is also an old song by the great Hoagy Carmichael, but of course you knew that.  If not, give it a listen HERE.

Sepia Scenes - Bridge over Arkansas River, Tulsa

Pedestrian Bridge and low water dam, Arkansas River, Tulsa

Wordless Wednesday - Doors to Midtown Home

Home in Midtown Tulsa.

Ruby Tuesday - Red is the Color

Macro Monday - Bee on Portulaca

Some sort of little bee is visiting my portulaca.  I can't place him although he may be a type of wasp.  Either way he doesn't appear dangerous as long as I don't try to pick him up. 

I am gone to Prison - Kairos Prison Ministry

From Thursday October 21 to Sunday October 24 I will take a break from the internet.  I will be part of a group of 30 Christian men who will go into the Cimmaron Correctional Facility in Cushing Oklahoma to be part of a program called Kairos.   From Thursday evening until Sunday afternoon we will conduct a retreat for 42 residents of the prison selected for us by the prison staff.  We ask the prison to send us the negative leaders, those inmates who exert influence over their peers in some way or another, often by fear and intimidation.   

During these three and one half days we will sit at tables to listen to talks and meditations on the love of God and the Christian faith.  Those of us who make up the team are of many different denominations; Protestant, Catholic, and Pentecostal.  Although we have elements of our faith communities which distinguish us from one another, there is a large middle ground which binds us together as Christians.  We carry a united message of God's love for all He has created and His admonition that we love one another as He loves us.  This central messages is explained in talks, music, and meditations, and demonstrated by the activities.  In the words of St. Francis, "preach the gospel,  use words if necessary'.

Since early in 1997 I have participated in about 20 of these weekends and can tell you that it changes lives.  Over this next weekend I will see men filled with hate and anger and affiliated with prison gangs, Crips, Bloods, Aryan Nations, Native American Brotherhood, Black Muslims, you name it.  Over the course of this retreat many will experience the love of God for the first time, and will lay aside their anger and begin to accept each other as brothers in Christ.

If you are still reading this I will tell you that I understand your skepticism, but I can only tell you that I have seen this happen time and again.  Does it only last for the weekend?  For some it does, but for many it is the beginning of a new journey.  Matthew 25:36, "I was in prison and you visited me."

I have rambled too long already.  Sorry, but I get excited about this.  If you are interested, Kairos has a web site with lots of information.  Take a look.

Wordless Wednesday - Doors to Woolaroc Museum

Woolaroc is the 2,700 acre country ranch of Frank Phillips the founder of Phillips 66 Oil Company.  He named it for the main elements of the ranch, Woods, Lakes, and Rocks.  It is now a wild animal park and the site of an outstanding museum of western and native American art and artifacts. 

Ruby Tuesday - Begonia at Summer's End

At their peak of beauty, these begonias are not long for this world.  They will be toast at the first frost.

Macro Monday - Monarch on the Way South

The Monarch butterfly is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies. The Monarch is famous for its southward migration and northward return in summer in the Americas which spans the life of three to four generations of the butterfly.

In North America they make massive southward migrations starting in August until the first frost. A northward migration takes place in the spring. The monarch is the only butterfly that migrates both north and south as the birds do, but no single individual makes the entire round trip. Female monarchs deposit eggs for the next generation during these migrations.

By the end of October, the population east of the Rocky Mountains migrates to sanctuaries in central México. The western population overwinters in various sites in southern California, notably in Pacific Grove and Santa Cruz.  For a lengthy but interesting article see Wikipedia.

SOOC Sunday - Cherry Parfait Rose

Cherry Parfait Grandiflora Rose.  This rose was the AARS 2003 Winner and is excellent in all climates. The truly outstanding color and the dark foliage make make this a wonderful addition to any garden.  Tulsa Municipal Rose Garden. 

Black & White Weekend - Where the Buffalo Roam

One of many American Bison (Buffalo) grazing in the Woolaroc Museum and Animal Park west of Bartlesville Oklahoma.  See Wikipedia.

Skywatch Friday - Under the Rolling Clouds

Clouds roll over Tulsa.  We were forecast for rain but no rain came.

Sepia Scenes - Cessna O-1A Bird Dog , Thumper II

The Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog was a liaison and observation aircraft. It was the first all metal fixed wing aircraft ordered for and by the United States Force since the U.S. Army Air Forces separated from the Army in 1947, becoming its own branch of service, the U.S.Air Force.  The Bird Dog had a lengthy career in the U.S. military as well as in other countries. For a history see Wikipedia.  This aircraft and others were on display at the Oklahoma Air Guard's Family day September 11, 2010.

Wordless Wednesday - Doors to Midtown Brick Home

Elegant and welcoming

Ruby Tuesday - Game of Chance

The Tulsa State Fair is not complete without the games of chance/skill.  It looks easy to toss a ping pong ball into a dish.  It's harder than it looks.  But this young man is determined and he already has a stuffed toy from another game.  He just might have what it takes.

Macro Monday - Step into my parlor...

...said the spider to the fly. A black and yellow garden spider lays in wait for breakfast.  They are harmless to humans.  See Wikipedia.

SOOC Sunday - Carding Mill Rose

Carding Mill has flowers of beautifully mixed shades of pink, apricot and yellow, overall, giving the impression of rich apricot. There is a strong and beautiful myrrh fragrance. (David Austin 2004).   Tulsa Municipal Rose Garden.

Weekend Reflections - Tulsa State Fair

The Tulsa State Fair is in full swing and Sue and I enjoyed looking at the exhibits and the livestock. The youngsters love the midway but we like the animals.  The show barns are full of livestock and the area behind the barns are full of trailers.  Getting the animals ready for to show is a family affair and mom, dad, and all the kids are washing and grooming all manner of critters.
  

If I have a favorite it is the big draft        Llamas are a hit with the kids.
horses. I love the Percherons, the
Clydesdales and the Big Belgian draft
horses. This gentle giant stands
patiently as his diminutive owner
grooms his mane. (click on this photo)


 

Skywatch Friday - Peek at the Sky

A pass through under Route 66 (old 75 NE of Tulsa) built around a large section of corrugated pipe.

Sepia Scenes - North American T-28B Trojan

Built as the North American T-28B Trojan this was at one time the primary trainer for the Navy and Marines.  Also known as the Navy VT-2 "Doerbird" it was put into service in 1960 as a trainer for the U.S. Armed forces and is still used as a flight trainer.  See this blog post by a Navy aviator in training.  For a history of the aircraft during the Vietnam war and afterwards see Wikipedia.  This aircraft and others were on display at the Oklahoma Air Guard's Family Day September 11, 2010.

Wordless Wednesday - Doors to Vandever's, Tulsa

The Vandever's Dry Goods later Vandever's Department Store was the first big department store in Tulsa.  Established in 1912 sold in 1970, and closed several years later.  The last surviving Vandever brother "Bill" died January 2, 2010.  See the article in the Tulsa World.

Photo courtesy of the Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society.

Ruby Tuesday - Bartlesville Buffalo

We were in Bartlesville Friday showing Sue's brother and sister-in-law the sights when I spied this Bison.  Brightly colored beasts are all over town to raise money for the Mary Martha Outreach, a local charity that provides assistance for the needy.  This sort of thing started in Chicago with large cows purchased and decorated by various groups.  Tulsa did penguins to support a new exhibit for the zoo.  Bartlesville is having a Buffalo Stampede.  Fun Stuff.

See more Ruby Tuesdays at:

Macro Monday - Squash Bug

Squash Bug looking for dinner.

See more Macro Monday:

SOOC Sunday - Artistry Rose

Artistry:  Modern large flowered Hybrid Tea Rose,  All America Rose Selection 1997.  Tulsa Municipal Rose Garden.

Straight Out Of the Camera

Weekend Reflections - Swan Lake at Woolaroc

Crossing one of several lakes in the Woolaroc Museum and Game Park west of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Skywatch Friday - Tulsa Rose Garden

The Tulsa Municipal Rose Garden was constructed as a series of terraces using hand labor and teams of horses as a W.P.A. project from 1932 and 1935.  The panorama was created with Autostitch.

Older photos courtesy of the Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society.

The Rose Garden's five terraces begin at the top of a gentle slope and end 900 feet west at Peoria Avenue.  English ivy-covered stone walls and steps connect the different levels.  Pools or fountains are found on most levels.  Junipers,  deciduous holly,  and magnolias are all found amidst the wide array of roses in the gardens  It is an All-American Rose Society test garden containing 6,000 individual rose plants in 250 varieties.  Location of each type of rose may be found at the Rose Garden map link. 

Smokey and I spent several hours on Wednesday visiting four of the five terraces and took lots of photos of the beautiful roses which have survived the heat of summer.  I think I may make Sunday "Rose Day" to share some of the varieties.