LAKE OF THE ARBUCKLES in OKLAHOMA

Hi  Everybody,
       Seems that all the crazy energies (cosmic or earthly) have really been bombarding me these last few days. It has been mind expanding and soul adjusting. I feel as if the angels have tested me and I passed an initiation of some type. It's as if my mind has expanded in the way I think and how I process my thinking. I think there has been a planetary shift of some sort and it has to do with the mental consciousness of the human race. Mankind is evolving into higher consciousness. Awesome...
      But enough about me and my thoughts.... I hope that life's school hasn't given you a test that you didn't pass with flying colors. Does not matter who you are or if you believe or not... you are in school and your teachers are Angels sent to watch over you... so in reality you are dancing with Angels to the tune of life.
     Now, back to the lake....Here are a few photos taken of the lake...

 

While taking a photo near the point I heard the wings of this big bird in it's struggle to fly with a big catfish.

It turned out to be a bigger then usual osprey. I didn't find his coloring to be as usual either...

 

Another thing unusual about this lake is... they have a table in the lake for boater's use when they want to have a picnic lunch... lol

 

Nor, have I seen (as Phil called it) a trashcan for fish to use...

 

Not sure what this building was used for but it caught both Phil's and my eye. Nice relic...

 

 Speaking of relic... what would Oklahoma be without the Sooner Prairie wagon?...

 

Or it's horses? These are in Walmart's front pasture in Sulphur, Oklahoma

 

 

We have met some super nice people here and I do believe Phil is a people magnet.  Everyone stops and talks with him.

 

Our internet service is a lot better here but not the phone service. In this next photo Phil is talking to our realtor. He has discovered that he has better service down by the lake. All the comforts of home, lol...

 

This coming Tuesday we will start our travel back to Tonopah, Az for the winter. Today Phil is over at Lake Tishomingo spending the day trout fishing with our daughter and her family/friends. Every Father needs that bonding experience.

 

When we get to our next destination I don't know if we will have service or not. So, if there isn't another blog for awhile please bare with me. We will spend a week at Proctors Lake in Texas. Then we are not going to have service as we  will be spending the nights along the road for the next three days as we push on into Sun Camp at Tonopah, Az.  I hope to get one more posting before we leave Tuesday.... but meanwhile.....

 

                                 KEEP ON DANCING

                                      AND SMILING

 

 

 

CHICKASAW RECREATION AREA AT SULPHUR, OKLAHOMA

We made it to Chickasaw Recreation Area just outside of Sulphur, Oklahoma. This is a pretty area and the autumn colors are just starting to show. It is mostly oak trees in the area so they are not as bright. We passed some fantastic views coming from Arkansas to Oklahoma.  Some of the colors actually looked fake with their lemon yellows, lime greens and amazing reds...

 

 

 We could tell when we got to Oklahoma because of the change in the land. More open pastures with prairie grass and more oaks...

 

 

It wasn't hot because of the rainy weather so don't know what this cow was thinking...lol. Not swimming weather for sure...

 

 

This store and Museum were in Arkansas. I don't remember what town they were near but I think the road was Hwy 63.  It's a play on the Lil Abner cartoon and Dog Patch, USA. This is the Jot'em Down Store...

 

 

Because of traveling in and out of rain. There wasn't a lot of light for good photography so I took pictures when I could like the one of this old barn.

And the wild Canadian geese in this new rye grass field...

 

There are sections here in this park that are really pretty. This is a scene just up the road from where we are camping. Nice show of yellows...

 

Phil and I went down to the beach and discovered an abandoned boat. We got the water out of it and carried it up to our campsite. The boat had escaped from the Goddard Youth Camp across the lake. So, the next day Phil called them and told them where it was at. Today he spoke with the Park Rangers about it. They are going to pick it up and deliver it to the Youth Camp. I am so proud of Phil...

 

A passing boat scared a young raccoon up a tree.  He just thought he was hiding, lol...

 

He is really out on a limb. We talked to him for a few minutes and he calmed down. Even went to eating the acorns around him. So we left him in peace and when back to camp for the night...

 

Speaking of night... it has been a busy day. We had to make a run into town. Did some shopping, sight seeing, got a haircut, and now I'm beat. Can't hardly stay awake...

 

 

Don't know what tomorrow will bring or what kind of critters I'll dance with. But I will keep on dancing...

You do the same.... just....

KEEP ON DANCING

SATURDAY NIGHT CABIN FEVER

It is Saturday and has rained all day today.  There is no going outside so cabin fever is starting to set in. It is too early to go to bed, there is no television, so it's either do the blog or watch movies on the computer. I have chosen to try to work on the blog. We will be leaving here next Tuesday and will start our journey back towards Arizona. I am looking forward to civilization again. We are far out in the backwoods here. Love it but after awhile you just need to know that there is a big wide world out there. lol. I've really enjoyed the people I've met here and the critters that abound. Like this little river otter...

 

He (or maybe she) tends to show up just as dark starts to set in for the night.  The little lazy bones sleeps all day and plays all night.  When he comes over you can bet something new is on the beach. He is so curious about everything and everyone. When he is moving fast he looks like a big snake because of the wave behind him...

 

Once in a while I get to see the doe and her fawn go out to the point for a evening drink. Most photos don't allow you to see them clearly because they tend to blend into their surroundings. But the light was just right when I took this shot. The doe is starting to go behind the rock and up the path. When I called out to them the fawns both stopped and watched me for quiet some time...

 

But that too ended and they went up the hill. Leaving me with wonderment at the beautiful scene I had just watched unfold before my eyes...

 

Phil came inside to ask if I could tell what was swimming out in the middle of the river channel. I watched it long enough to think I might have the answer but went back to grab my camera for the zoom ability. But coming back outside I found it had gone under.  Shortly afterwards I spotted an eagle trying to get something that was in the water. He would hover, dive, and circle. Many attempts went array and the fish escaped his talons...

 

 

Then when he swung down low over the surface of the water in another try I saw the white jug. Which meant that I was right about what I thought Phil had seen... a catfish swimming at the end of a line tied to a gallon milk jug... This eagle is running trot lines... lol.  So, heads up all you fishermen... if you think someone is running your trot lines it just could be an eagle...

 

Every time the eagle got close the jug would go under as the catfish went down into deeper water. It was beautiful to watch such a big bird hover... I have yet to figure out how he did it. It was as if he was doing a dance in the air... so graceful...He finally gave up...

 

 Looking down I saw Phil had stopped fishing and was talking pictures also...

 

Earlier that day we had to go to town for groceries so we went to Collier's Springs for water. Then went by Wegner's Crystal Ranch (Mine) to check them out. First thing we noticed was the crystals all over the gateway post. This is the gate...

 

 Once you make the bend in the road this is the next thing you see...

 

The front of the barn had tables and tables of rocks, glass, and crystals. Then around and under the tables are the larger specimens...

 

 

Inside crystals, rocks, and minerals are wall to wall.  Here is a nice smoky quartz ...

 

 We were really shocked to see how much crystals have risen in price since our last visit in 1992. The crystal in this photo is smaller than the one we paid eleven dollars for. Check out the price tag...

 

At the rear of the barn are two crystals that can take your breath away.  I was transfixed when I saw them... OMG...

 

To give an estimate of their size I asked Phil to stand next to the first point.  Are they not mind blowing? Definitely not pocket crystals...

 

Once again it is that time... internet connection has slowed past slow. I have been working on getting this post up most of the day. Started about three in the afternoon and it is now one am. So... I'm off to bed to dream the dreams of tomorrow's dance...

 

Don't forget...........................

 

KEEP ON DANCING

 

 

TUESDAY AND ALL IS WELL

Hi everybody... thought I would try to get another posting up on the blog.  Lots has happened but nothing extremely important.  Unless, it is the opening back up of the campgrounds.  Speaking of campgrounds... I found this copperhead snake after a heavy rain when I went for a walk near the chestnut trees.  I did not do a catch and release because he is venomous. Doesn't belong near people and specially where they are putting their hands down to gather nuts. If he would have been somewhere in the woods then I would have let him go.  But there is no way I was going to try to catch him and take him off to the woods. I'm not that brave, lol...

 

After the rains the finches, sparrows, bluebirds, and indigo come down from the trees in a quick swoop to grab any bug that moves.  They are fun to watch... 

 

This is a flock of loons that were swimming on the opposite side of the lake so the photo isn't that great. I thought at first they were weird acting ducks... maybe doing a water ballet...

 

 

 When the rains slacked off we decided to get away from cabin fever. So we went over to Mt. Ida and visited our old favorite rock shop... Fiddler's Ridge. Seems that the old mine that we knew was no longer producing and they had moved to Fisher Mountain. They then sold out of the mining of crystals. All they have now is the shop. Still have a nice selection of rocks and things but we didn't see the crystals like we did when we first visited in 1989. But they still had some of the items that we loved... Like this crystal eagle ...

 

And the rock knives... They are handmade locally. The blue glass one really stood out...

 

When we first visited them they told the story about someone finding this sabertooth skull in a nearby cave. How much truth to the story I have no idea.  But it makes for an interesting conversation. Be it real or not...

 

 

 They have a nice place inside and out...

 

 

Lots of rocks, minerals, glass, and naturally crystals from their old mines...

 

The yard area had some nice slabs of group crystals from the first mine.

 

 

This next photo is of a big gold rock. The mica was so thick it looked like it had been gold plated. Very pretty and flashy in the sunlight...

 

 

 While out in this area we spotted this group of crystals with several double terminators so we purchased it...

This internet connections has gone from bad to worse.  So rather than fight with it I am going to fix my bed and then get in it... two o'clock in the morning is a bit late for me.  Tomorrow is another day...

 

 

So.... come on and....

 

 

KEEP ON DANCING